The Ragged Edge Radio ....with Russ Dizdar

coming Oct 31st The Celts worshiped the sun god Belenus, especially cially on Beltane, May 1, and they worshiped another god, apparently the lord of death, or the lord of the dead, on Samhain (pronounced "SOW-wen" by Wiccans), cans), October 31. Beltane ("Fire of Bel") was the time of the summer festival, while Samhain was the time of the winter festival. Human sacrifice was offered during both occasions. According to Julius Caesar in his Commentaries mentaries and other sources,6 the Celts believed they were descended from the god Dis, a tradition handed down from the Druids. Dis was the Roman name for the god of the dead. Of the 400 names of Celtic gods known, Belenus is mentioned most often. Samhain as the specific name of the lord of death is uncertain, but it is possible that the lord of death was the chief Druid deity. We'll follow the common practice of other authors on this issue and refer to this deity by the name Samhain. Druidic festivals The Celts and their Druid priests began their New Year on No