Starting Off the New Year Right!
Many people choose to present Celtic engagement rings at a time that has traditional meaning for the Celts. Samhain, which essentially means “summer’s end” and marks the beginning of the new year for the Celts, is a great time to get engaged with Celtic jewelry.

Samhain is tied up in the modern holiday Halloween, but it is really so much more than that. Celtic tradition says that during Samhain (which actually was celebrated over a period of several days), the barrier between our world and the spirit world became thin, and as a result the dead could cross back over for a short time as spirits or ghosts. Dressing up in costumes was a way of impersonating the dead, and was supposed to help keep the spirits happy.

Samhain was also a practical tradition. Since the holiday marked the division between fall and winter, it was also when the people started getting ready for the hard winter ahead of them. This was the final harvest, when the last of the food was brought in and the people were able to take stock of what they had to get them through the winter. This was also when they slaughtered livestock for the winter, since feeding the animals would be more difficult from here on out, and the cold weather meant that the meat would keep.

The more romantic traditions surrounding Samhain include divination. Apples and nuts, both of which were harvested during this time, were used to tell the future. Examples of things the people might want to know included what would happen in the coming year, who they might marry, and how many kids they would have. Bobbing for apples, which is now a common Halloween party game, referred to myths explaining how the dead became immortal.

Despite the similarities to modern-day Halloween celebrations, Samhain was much more than just an old-fashioned Halloween. This tradition marked the division between the dark half of the year (winter and early spring), and the light half of the year (summer and fall). It also celebrated the end of an old year, and the beginning of a new one.

If you have been shopping for Celtic engagement rings and plan to use Celtic jewelry to celebrate your union with your loved one, what better time to do so than with the start of the new year? In a way, this symbolizes a new life for the both of you. Or you could work it into a mock-divination ritual where you determine that your name is the name of your significant other’s future spouse — and produce the ring as proof.

However you celebrate Samhain, we hope you have a blessed start to the new year!

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Creating a Memorable Christmas Season

Christmas time is an exciting time, and many of the traditions meld perfectly with Celtic music and Celtic gifts. Whether you are just considering exchanging claddagh wedding rings this Christmas season, or just making a present of some Celtic jewelry, Celtic Christmas music is the perfect accompaniment.

Although technically Celtic Christmas music is never traditional, at least not to the Celts — the Celts didn’t celebrate Christmas originally — once they were converted they adopted many of the traditions, including the familiar music we all know and love. Many Celtic artists love to release Christmas music with a definitive Celtic flavor, so there are many Celtic Christmas music CDs on the market for you to choose from — many from your favorite Celtic artists.

For instance, one immensely popular Celtic artist is Loreena McKennitt. In 2008, she released a Christmas album that combines her very traditional flavor of music with traditional holiday songs. The result is a very unique Celtic Christmas CD unlike any other holiday album.

Another popular Celtic artist, Enya, has also released a Christmas album of sorts. Enya fans will recognize the new-agey sounds she is known for, but she has also made an effort to include more of a Celtic flavor. Rather than focusing on well-known traditional Christmas classics, she breaks the mold with a slightly different mixture of winter-themed songs, with a few traditional songs (such as “Silent Night,” sung in Irish-Gaelic) thrown in for good measure.

You may also have heard of the group The Chieftains, known for their traditional Irish sounds. This group has also released an excellent Christmas album, which features guest singers and unique takes on Christmas theme, such as the title track, “The Bells of Dublin.”

Don’t overlook the value of compilations, either. In addition to the many Celtic Christmas music CDs released by popular artists, there are numerous compilations by lesser-known artists that are well-worth listening into. Whether you like traditional Christmas songs, lyrics and all, or prefer instrumental versions, or whether you would rather hear original songs written for Christmas by Celtic artists, there are sure to be several compilations that offer just the kind of music you want to hear.

Celtic Christmas music is a wonderful way to put a warm, welcoming spin on traditional holiday music. Especially if you have other Celtic traditions planned for the holidays, or if you plan on giving Celtic jewelry as a gift, be sure to browse the many selections of Celtic music available online and in stores. You are sure to find something that suits your needs perfectly!

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