Welcome at the seventh lunation of the ancient Celtic year, at the start of the Celtic winter, now far beyond the year's Beltaine opening at summer. In the southern hemisphere, on the other hand, the seventh lunation sees the start of the seasonal cycle with the opening days of the southern Celtic summer.

The great two-fold division of the year is an enduring Celtic hallmark. First comes Samhradh, the summer, headed by Samon as its first month was named in Gaul (cét-Soman in Old Irish was the original of Cétemain, better known as Beltaine). The second half of the year is Geimhreadh, the winter, headed by Giammon in Gaul(Gaimred in Old Irish, headed by the Samhain feast at the half-way mark of the year at the end of summer). The seventh month is named Giammon, meaning 'Winter' and this is reflected in the Old Irish Gaimred, Irish Geimhreadh and Welsh Gaeaf: a straight-forward heading-name for the season that follows! The six-month distant and complementary named month is Samon, 'Summer', derived from *samo- meaning summer and clearly reflected in Irish Samhradh - seasonally this is the southern hemisphere's current lunation - at the head of summer.

Caer Australis explores and celebrates the ancient traditions born on the river of Danu in the Heroic age of Europe twenty-six centuries ago, amongst the scores of Celtic touta (in Irish tuatha, Welsh tud) of Europe and continued under rule from Imperial and then Christian Rome, as Celtic Europe came to be defined by Gaul and Britain and Ireland. Today Celtic people abound all over the globe, and throughout its history, Celtic culture has expressed through its deities, myths and languages a most powerful ideal - the Celtic hero - and has met the challenges of the ages, full of tragedy mixed with unyielding hope. The modern Celtic homelands are secure and increasingly independent, the languages flourish, and a desire to know what once was is driving forward the impetus for what is yet to be.

To understand the past so that we may meet the future with knowledge and wisdom is a worthy challenge, and it is worth seeking with honesty, passion and integrity. Since 1995 Caer Australis has enjoined with others in this challenge by both celebrating Celtic traditions and defending them with reasoned analyses of some popular modern ideas. In exploring the song, myths and history of the Celts, we also join those who strive to find the magic and meaning of the powerful literature of an enduring culture.

Eadar dà theine Bhealltuin! We hope you enjoy your visit!

Caer Australis presents...

As adjuncts to the main Caer Oz site, where the focus is on Celtic culture, are two historical websites -

The Arthur Project, which presents an introduction to the Arthurian legends and the historical endevours to penetrate the Dark Age of Britain; an overview of the stories and Arthurian romances; and the power of the legend today.

The Arthur Project - Home
The Time & Place
Arthur Pendragon
Romances of Arthur
Historical Arthur
The Birth of Arthur
Arthurian Themes Today
On-Line Resources
References
AP Contact Form

Conquest of the Celts, which presents a comprehensively referenced and documented account of the ancient world of the Celts from the earliest of historical times. Events through four and a half centuries of are examined, the conflict with the emergent Roman Republic and later the Empire. From Brennus, through to Vercingetorix, Cunobelinus and Boudicca, this is the rich history of the Heroic Age of the Celts.

Conquest - Home
The Heroic Age
Gallic War
Vercingetorix
Cunobelinos
Britain
Boudicca
On-Line Resources
References
Conquest Contact Form


The Celtic Fire Feasts:

The Celtic Fire Feasts - Introduction
Beltaine
Lughnasa
Samhain
Oimelc

The Southern Seasons Celtic Fire Feasts

Samhain is not the Celtic New Year - Introduction
Sir John Rhys - The Hibbert Lectures, 1886
James Frazer - The Golden Bough, 1922
Henri Herbert - The Greatness and Decline of the Celts, 1934
PW Joyce - A Social History of Ancient Ireland, 1903
Douglas Hyde - Literary History of Ireland, 1899
Peter Berresford Ellis - A Brief History of the Celts, 1988
Tóraigheacht an Ghiolla Dheacair - 16th Century
Eugene O'Curry - 1855 & 1856 Lectures: The Expedition of Dathi


The Celtic Calendar:

"Now when at intervals of thirty years the star of Cronus, which they call 'Night-watchman', enters the sign of the Bull, they, having spent a long time in preparation for the sacrifice, choose by lot a sufficient number of envoys, while those who have served the god together for thirty years return home"

                                                      - Plutarch (De Facie, AD75).
The Celtic Calendar
Introduction and Five Year Cycle of 2007 - 2011
The Pleiades Cycle
The Coligny Tablet
Samhradh - The Start of the Year
Geamhreadh - The Second Half of the Year

The Five Year Cycle of 2002 - 2006

The Celtic Calendar - 2008
Celtic Calendar 2008 complex, linking to individual months in a calendar of correspondences to Gregorian May 12, 2008 - April 29, 2009:
| Samon | Duman | Riuros | Anagantios | Ogronnos | Cutios |
| Giammon | Semiuisonna | Equos | Elembiuos | Aedrini | Cantlos |

The Southern Seasons Celtic Year 2008
In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are off-set by half a year, and the southern Celtic Summer begins at the time of Samhain in the North. In this presentation, the Celtic response to the year in the Southern Hemisphere is explored.