The Druids of Wales are an enigma, and that mystery is a large part of their appeal.
Wales is full of history, striking landscape and myth, and the Druids, who led Celtic religious and social life, run through all three. This post looks at who they were, what they believed and the mark they left on Wales.
Who Were the Druids?
The Druids were the religious leaders, teachers and advisers of ancient Celtic communities. Mysterious beings known as Red Caps appear across Celtic lands, but Wales has a particular link with them.
Spiritual Leaders and Guardians of Knowledge
People believed the Druids carried messages between the gods and humankind. They performed religious ceremonies, led sacred rituals and were thought to be able to read signs in nature. They taught philosophy, astronomy, herbalism and law, and they were the keepers of their people's knowledge.
The Sacred Sites of Wales
Several ancient sites in and around Wales are linked with the Druids.
Glastonbury Tor: in England, but closely tied to Welsh mythology.
Bryn Celli Ddu: a burial chamber with evidence that it was used for Druidic rituals and aligned with celestial events.
The Preseli Mountains: thought to be the source of the bluestones used to build Stonehenge, and believed to have been a site for Druidic ceremonies.
The Druid Revival
The Druids' influence lasted, and people still practise Druidry today. In the 18th and 19th centuries Druidic traditions and beliefs were revived and blended with the Romantic movement's love of nature.
Festivals and Celebrations
Several festivals in Wales follow Druidic tradition, marking the turning of the seasons. The best known are:
Beltane, on 1 May, welcomes the summer with bonfires, dancing and rituals for fertility and growth.
Samhain, on 31 October, marks the end of the harvest, when people remember their ancestors and the spirits of the otherworld.
The Druids still fascinate anyone interested in Welsh history and culture, because they stand for a close relationship between people and nature. Studying what they taught and practised tells us about the past and still has something to say today, whether you're visiting Wales's sacred sites or reading about Druid philosophy.
