Celtic festivals.
The Celtic year was divided into four parts by two major feasts (Samhain and Beltane) and two lesser feasts (Imbolc and Lughasadh).
Samhain, the most important of the four feasts, was celebrated on 1st November, it marked the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is now associated with "all souls day" (All hallows day) witch today is mostly celebrated the night before, on Halloween (All hallows eve). This would not be inappropriate because the Celts, and later religious groups, including Christians, reckoned a daily unit as running from sunset to sunset, so that the night before was counted with the date of the following day.
Beltane, celebrated on 1st May, marked the beginning of the light half of the year. Beltane (also spelled Beltine, Beltain, Beal-tine, Beltan, Bel-tien and Beltein) means "bright fire" and in the past two fires were lit by druids in honour of Bel. Later it came to be associated with May Day (Calan Mai).
Imbolc was celebrated on 1st February. It was associated with the goddess Brigit, a Mother-goddess and protector of women in childbirth.
Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas), "the feast of the god Lu" (or Lug), was celebrated on 1st Agust in connection with the harvest.
