Wiccan Studies lesson 10 (comments)

Just a few comments on a few inaccuracies in this lesson: The lesson says that Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon are the Celtic names for these holidays and that they are called "Cross Quarter" days: "The Celtic names for these holidays are Yule (Midwinter, Dec 21), Ostara (Spring equinox, March 21), Litha (Midsummer, June 21) and Mabon (Autumn Equinox, September 21). These are also known as the 'Cross Quarters' collectively" Actually, the names mentioned above are in fact of Germanic (Anglo-Saxon, German, Scandinavian, etc.), not Celtic origin. In fact "Yule" is still the word for Christmas in Scandinavia. Ostara is derived from the Germanic goddess of Spring. Litha is also a Germanic word. Of these four, only Mabon is of Celtic origin. The names of the other four holidays, however, (Imbolg, Beltaine, Lammas and Samhain) are indeed Celtic words. Also, the "cross quarter" days are not Yule, Ostara, etc, but Imbolg, Beltaine, Lammas and Samhain. The solstices and equinoxes are "quarters" and those coming midway between them are "cross quarters". This is not just according to one authority, as the text suggests, but is generally accepted. In general it is a bit misleading to suggest that all the holidays of the Wheel of the Year are purely Celtic. It's more accurate to think of it as a blending of Celtic and Germanic traditions. This is certainly particularly plausible if we recall that it was in the British Isles that Celtic culture (the Welsh, Gaelic peoples, ancient Britons) mixed with Germanic culture (the Angles, Saxons, and Danes [Vikings] who invaded and settled in Britain). J.P.A.