The eight sacred Celtic holidays of the year - from St. Brigid's Day to the winter solstice - PHOTOS

When the ancient Druid customs and Christianity mesh

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MOLLY MULDOON,

IrishCentral Deputy Editor

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A ray of light beams into the burial tomb in Newgrange , County Meath.

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PHOTOS - Eight Celtic holidays photo gallery

There are eight sacred days in Ireland, the times when the old Celtic world stopped to celebrate. Christianity adapted many of their feast days to match. The first one is upcoming on February 1st .

St Brigid’s Day

The years’s first sacred holiday, the feast day of Saint Brigid, is celebrated on February 1st, which marks the beginning of Spring. The Bogha Bríde or Brigid’s Day Cross is the symbol of the day. Traditionally, reeds or straw are collected from the fields and crafted into a cross. St Brigid is Ireland’s most celebrated female saint and was the Abbess of one of the first convents in Ireland.

READ MORE- Irish women should follow St. Brigid, not just St. Patrick

St. Patrick’s Day- Spring Equinox

Around the globe Irish people and those of Irish decent celebrate St. Patricks Day on March 17, which is one of Ireland’s biggest holidays. The special holiday is devoted to the patron saint of Ireland. The religious day is marked by a special mass for the feast and traditionally everyone wears green. This is considered the middle of the Spring season and is also referred to as the Spring Equinox.

READ MORE- World's wackiest St. Patrick's Day celebrations

PHOTOS - Eight Celtic holidays photo gallery

May Day - Bealtaine

May Day, the 1st of May  in Ireland is a Holy Day which marks the start of the summer season. Centuries ago, bonfires were lit to welcome the arrival of summer. In Ireland, dependant on what day the holday falls, the feast is marked by a public holiday. In towns around the country May fair days are held where farmers and traders all gather in towns to sell their wares.

READ MORE- West's Awake: The joys of a May day

Midsummer- Summer solstice

The summer solstice is marked in parts of Ireland by bonfires on the side of the road. It is usually celebrated on June 23rd, the longest day of the year. In rural Ireland communities gather and for their local bonfire and celebrate the longest day of the year with song and dance.

READ MORE- Druids celebrating Solstice feel negative energy on the Hill of Tara

Lughnasa

In ancient times this sacred day marked the beginning of harvest on August 1st. It honored the Celtic God of Lugh. In Gaelic folklore it was a time for handfastings or trial marriages that would last a year and a day could be renewed. Many celebrate the holiday today with re-unions, bonfires and dancing.

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