andredefreitas:

Alright, time for another contest!

I need two ladies to help me out with my Songs project. If you want to help me, just like or reblog this post to participate. I’ll pick two random winners from tumblr and from facebook this July 10th. The winners will be drawn, and I will send them a print of the final result! 

Thank you and good luck! 

celteros:

Domhnach Chrom Dubh ~

Chrom (Crom) Dubh (krahm-doov) is the ancient Gaelic/Celtic god who was thought to be able to take the form of a snake or dragon. He comes at Lughnassadh/Lammas during which time he shares prominence with the god Lugh for whom the fest is named. He is so ancient that representations of him are mostly nonexistent and information is varied and vague but his impression on Irish culture lives on to this day. 

He is Lugh’s counterpart, in that Lugh is associated with lighter aspects, Chrom is known as the “dark bent” god of the harvest. He is seen as a shadowy, entity known for association to the color black who was considered evil at times and who comes with a scyth to take the harvest. As a fertility deity, he is the carrier and taker of seed in all its fertile forms carrying it in his “sack” or in some cases upon his back. He is associative to the figure of John Barleycorn in his personification of grain.

Archeologically he is known as the chief idol of Eirin. A megalithic stone was erected to/as him in Ulster, NI. Situated around him/the megalith were twelve smaller idols made of other types of stones/gems while his was made of or covered in gold. To him the early Irish, historians have said, sacrificed their children in return for milk, corn and the good weather that insured the fertility of cattle and crops. The truth of this claim is unclear as revisionist Christian historians may have used this construct to demonized him. Nonetheless, it is surmised, the god was held in awe and perhaps horror for his severe requirements and it was potentially even dangerous to worship him, for the faithful themselves it was believed sometimes perished in the act. His cult was likely introduced by a pre-Christian king names Tigernmus. During a ritual for Chrom one harvest night, Tigernmus and three- fourths of his followers were destroyed.

According to legend, St. Patrick, cursed and destroyed Chrom’s idol by pushing it over with his crosier and then preached to the people against sacrifice. Potentially, through Chrom’s shape-shifting snake association, it is he that is symbolized as being defeated when Patrick drove the serpents from Ireland.

He is evolved from the proto-Celtic god Donn, Chrom is honoured on the last Sunday in July in Ireland on “Domhnach Chrom Dubh” or “Crom Dubh’s Sunday.” The day is marked with the annual pilgrimage upon Croagh Patrick in County Mayo…

Image by Jose Tio