The Druids were part of Celtic society, they were the more experienced and wise people among that people. They were recognized for their knowledge of nature, health, law, culture, philosophy, astronomy and astrology.
They were seen as priests, philosophers or sorcerers and, because of that, they had various roles in Celtic communities. They were responsible for resolving conflicts, making judgments, organizing Celtic rituals, and making offerings to the gods.
Druids could be male or female (called Druids) and were equally recognized and respected for their knowledge.
The Celtic people saw the Druids as a representation of the goddesses and the force of nature, who were revered by them. The Druids were wise, strong, and warrior women, and at the same time, they represented femininity and fertility from nature.
Representation of a Druid, by unknown author (Source: National Museum of Wales).
The Druids and all Celtic people existed since before Christ, more than 3000 thousand years ago (in the 4th and 5th centuries). They lived in some regions of the European continent, mainly in what are now Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as some regions in Spain and France.
The most likely explanation for the meaning of Druid is "one who has the knowledge of the Oak", in reference to this very old tree, very typical of some regions where the Druids lived.
History tells that the Druids (and all Celtic people) used to gather in great oak groves.
The Three Types of Druids
There were three types of Druids, according to their knowledge and functions: Bards, Ovates and Druids.
The Bards were artists, musicians and poets still apprenticed in the art of experiencing and passing on artistic knowledge and Druidic culture. It is believed that they wore clothes in shades of blue to be identified.
Ovates were like witches or sorcerers and possessed natural knowledge of healing and divination, as well as being respected for their connection to the supernatural world. Their common garments were in green or brown.
The Druids represented the last degree of this class, were the wisest and probably wore white and gold robes, which indicated their prestige.
What is Druidry?
Druidry is the knowledge of Druids, based on force of nature and its elements. These are all customs practiced and honored by the Druids, who carried with them an ancient knowledge, which was passed on orally between generations.
The tradition was only oral and, because of that, there are almost no written records about the rituals of this people. What is known about Druidism is the result of impressions recorded by other peoples who lived with they, mainly the Romans, who had been close to the Celtic people during the expansion of the Empire Roman.
The Celtic people and the cult of nature
The Druids and the Celtic People they worshiped nature and understood it as a sacred temple, experiencing their human existence as an integral part of the balance of nature and the cycle of life.
They also believed in connection between the natural and supernatural worlds and in the immortality of the soul. Some reports indicate that Druids had hallucinogenic rituals to receive supernatural information.
They were polytheists, believed in various gods that represented animals or elements of nature and also celebrated natural events. The change of seasons (on the Solstices and Equinoxes) and the harvests were marked by festivals that celebrated these dates.
All the elements that are part of nature were venerated and celebrated by this people: sun, wind, water, air, fire, trees, animals, stones, cardinal points, stars and moon cycles. They believed that everything in the world came from nature.
Stones, for example, were used in Druidry to identify sacred sites for the Celtic people. Some of the stone buildings attributed to this people were used as astrological observatories.
Its origin is not confirmed, but the Stonehenge (Salisbury/England), all built in stone, is one of the buildings attributed to the Celtic people.
Learn more about Stonehenge.
What is the relationship between Druidism and the Roman Empire?
The wisdom and power of the Druids caused discomfort during the Roman Empire. Probably, the Romans were one of the peoples that came closest to the Celts and their existence, habits and traditions caused discomfort to the Romans.
Fearing the power of the Druids and the trust placed in them by the Celtic people, some emperors made frustrated attempts to wipe out the Druids, trying to prohibit the practice of their rituals.
Aristotle and the Emperors Julius Caesar (100 a. Ç. - 44 a. C.) and Tiberius (42 a. Ç. - 37 d. C.) wrote their impressions of the Druids. Julius Caesar described that the Druids made human sacrifices and that it was forbidden to record their habits and teachings, which should only be passed on orally.
The Emperor Tiberius, during his government, even published a decree to try to prohibit the Druids from carrying out their activities.
The onslaught of the Romans against the Druids and the Celtic people influenced the decimation of this people, which disappeared over the years.
Some famous Druids in fiction
Druids are also part of several fictional stories, being characters from movies, books and games.
- merlin: the Mage Merlin, famous character in the stories of King Arthur, was an advisor and sorcerer. It is probably the most famous Druid and has been the subject of books, movies and series.
- Panoramix: Known from the stories of Asterix and Obelix, Paronamix is a Druid from the Gaul region, who protected his village and advised Asterix. Panoramix's trademark is a potion made from herbs that gave a lot of strength to the drinker.
- Kevin: the character of Avalon Mists he was a Bard, one of the types of Druids. The book was first published in 1979 and takes place in the Middle Ages, during the period of King Arthur.
Druids are also famous in the roleplaying games (role playing game). Its most striking features are the protection of nature and the use of natural forces to make spells.
Its most common powers are: the ability to make metamorphoses, control and communication with animals and the elements of nature.
