So I am part German,Ukrainen, and Irish. What would have my acient acestors worshiped? That is... before they were Christanized
Well, they were animistic pagans of different sorts, depending on the areas they were in. Some worshipped tribal gods, some various elements, etc.. You would have to focus on a specific geographic area to study. Germany eventually accepted Latin Christianity, as did Ireland (although much earlier) and the Ukraine accepted Byzantine Christianity with the baptism of Prince Vladimir in 988.
Interesting choice of words. St. Patrick is known for having chased the snakes out of Ireland. Now anyone with even a modecum of knowledge of herpetology will tell you that Ireland is too cold a climate for snakes. So we now know that this was a euphemism from the destruction of paganism in Ireland. Destruction. And if you change the word "accepted" to "torture, execute and force" you'll be far closer to the truth. But I guess you'd prefer to continue believing Christianity is a peaceful, loving sect. Good luck with that, eh?
About the snakes ... http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mirishsnakes.html Yeah sure Christianity took hold, and not for all the right reasons, but it wasn't as if the Celts were all 'peace and love' either. Now of course the tide is turning back in our favour. So I'm not going to take it all that personally. As for the original question; well Heron is the real expert here, but far as I know ... * There are plenty of resources on Irish mythology and such; many of the traditions are still kicking around in some capacity. * I have some distant German heritage too, so have looked into that a bit. Their practises had a lot in common with Norse paganism (but obviously they're not totally interchangeable). * Not so sure about the Ukraine. Good luck in your research
Absolutely! The Iron Age (when tribal Celts were free) was hard, but the 9 virtues you mentioned in another post were held in high regard. Violating those virtues would likely get your head separated from your neck and nailed to someone's door post. Good times.
Indeed, there are plenty of people who deserve to become shruken heads on my mantel piece (Tony Blair for a start, hard to live by 'loyalty' and 'justice' when your leader is so crap at them ... well I never voted for him anyway.) The Celts did have an excellent moral code, but of course it suited their way of life [as an isolated tribal society] and didn't interfer with the important things in life.
I'd like Charlie's ears but I only have a single door. Blair is a beady-eyed git. Best I could give him is a window. Basement window at that.
Thanks all I've been trying to look into Germanic Paganism but I keep running into the Norse (North Germanic) rather than the West and southren Germanic. How simular are the myths and Gods of what is not Iceland and what is now Germany? If i'm reading say, the Eddas(hope I spelled that right) is that the same basic stories the more southen and Westren Germanics heard and told?
Its very very similar...just a few names changed....basically, try to decipher when the nordic elements came in, and try to find the core elements, and that will be close to what you are looking for. The Eddas are Icelandic, and are removed from the Old German (roman era) by about 500 years at least...so things change. Odin is a good example of the difference...Odin is the shamanic all father figure, but also is an aristorcratic deity of knowledge and war, were as Woden is a chthonic god, fertility and death, the ferryman of the dead. But they are differening roles and aspects of the same deity, just depends on where he was being worshipped.
I'm having a bit more succuess in the Slavic area BUT I'm having trouble finding the actual stoires. Links would be apprciated. Thanks heron!If not the Eddas what other book would you suggest for the Germans?
