2.10.3 Exile of snakes and the doctrine of shamrock

The Christianity got accustomed to Ireland thanks to the ability to adapt pagan rites to new traditions. A good example: holiday Samhain became the day of all the Saints, Imbolg became the Day of Saint Brigidy.

One of the most beautiful legends about Saint Patrick is connected with the exile of all snakes from Ireland. Actually, this image does not need to be perceived literally. Ancient Celts had God of fertility named Sernunnos represented in the form of a snake. Patrick "has forbidden" "Snake" God, instead of snakes proscription. It is necessary to mention that these reptiles had never lived in Ireland at all (equally as they were absent in New Zealand). These are the unique countries in the world free from snakes.

It is known also that Saint Patrick explained to Celts the symbol of Trinity with the help of shamrock which now is the symbol of the country.

It is important to mention that two places are associated with the life of Saints in Ireland: the cities of Downpatricks and Armagh. Patrick was buried in the city of Downpatrick on March, 17th where the tradition to celebrate this day comes from.

Most likely, Patrick had no time to christen all Ireland. In its "Confession" it is said that on the way he avoided places which had already become Christian. It is not excluded that Saint Patrick limited himself only to Ulster (Northern Ireland). Nevertheless, 1500 after his death Saint Patrick is a symbol of Christian belief of all Ireland.

2.10.3 Sacred running water

One of the symbols of the Celtic mythology most esteemed till now is a well. Only in Ireland there have been three thousand wells so far which are considered as sacred. Similar beliefs are connected, first of all, with the concept of the Other World. Water has always had cleared properties as Celts considered, therefore patients bathed in the flowing rivers and if there was no possibility, they used water from a sacred well. People looked in wells to have good luck, they drank water, esteeming it life-giving. It was considered that this water can not only cure, but also bless and give wisdom and poetic inspiration. At the times of Celts, wells were visited on all significant holidays: on 1 February, May, August and November. Just those days the gate to the Other World was always open, and water in wells had a special symbolical character.

There used to be a perceptible tree near sacred wells. It might to be a hazel or another fructifying plant. Basic elements of the Celtic wells: a well or water object like a natural source, a tree and very big hill or a stone close (and by all means old). Near to such sources druids and usual Celts once spent rituals of the most different appointments. Pilgrims went to wells behind blessing.

Women who couldn't conceive the child, laid down in special natural deepening in a stone, standing nearby which served them a bed. In it lay how many could long subsequently to manage to conceive the child. It was ideal to spend to a bed all night long, preliminary having bathed in sacred waters. The similar measure not only promoted fruitfulness at women, but also to healing of the most terrible wounds put in the field of fight. By the way, last researches spent by the British scientists, people in these parts easily have found out the reason on which fell asleep "a salutary" dream. Ostensibly almost near to each well high level of a radio-activity because of what the people who are here, constantly stayed in a condition of natural drowsiness. Dairy wells also have explained simply. Celts considered that in wells with water of dairy color, milk of Mother-earth flows. Actually there nearby there were hydrogen sulfide sources.

If the stone didn't lie, and stood, it rubbed to receive blessing. By the way, the custom to rub a subject is and in mythologies of other countries, and even in our country till now a tinder special figurines to become richer. And with a tree spent the most ancient, but, nevertheless, a ceremony known for all: on it tied a ribbon from hair or clothes scrap. Here only it is not simple how now, and by all means having bathed or having enjoyed from a source. In our mountains too quite often near to falls there are the trees decorated with tapes. Same stand at dolmens where close there are sources, here only very few people from tourists, tying a tape, understands true sense of the act. And the tree gets out any, instead of special more often. And meanwhile the ceremony has been urged to cure the person. Together with a slice of a fabric illness left the person and was carried away by source waters, and the person soon recovered. By the way, was considered that the well is capable to cure any illness of eyes, even blindness. It spoke belief that a source – a deity eye.

Sometimes in a well threw a coin, a brooch or other ornament as a gift and hope of blessing. Basically Christian ablution in a font located near of church or in it, occurs roots just from such pagan mythologies, as the Celtic. And Christian churches in the majority are constructed on sacred places of the Celtic empire. A well used and for guessings, including in water examined the person of the future husband (on holidays when a gate in Other World opened). Probably, and Russian habit to guess on narrowed on mirrors has come from the Celtic mythology.

Today the majority of ancient Celtic wells stand in ruins, for a long time thickets and are visited by nobody, only units are welcomed by tourists, hanging on trees of a rag growing nearby and kissing stones (new custom).