In our context, Europe designates the peoples of Roman culture (Rome is treated separately), Celtic, Germanic, Scandinavian, Icelandic and Breton. Slavic peoples have their own section.
Holidays of the month
May 1, 2024 (5 events)
May 1, 2024
Today, the Bretons are laying the Barrin ar mae (May branch). If today the May branch is considered more of a good luck charm, it was once hung in strategic places on the farm, such as the henhouse, the oven, the stable, in order to ward off bad luck. The entrances to the fields also had their may, in order to ensure a good harvest and to repel crop disease. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #May 1 #BarrinArMae #Brittany
May 1, 2024
On this day, the Celts celebrated Beltaine. It marks the return of the clear season or luminous season. The main ritual of Beltaine consists of fires lit by druids where livestock passed so that they would be protected from epidemics for the coming year. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #1May #beltaine
May 1, 2024
Today, the Welsh celebrate Calan Mai, Calan Haf or Cyntefin. It marks the start of summer, the inhabitants celebrate around bonfires, maypoles and songs. Some of its traditions parallel the Gaelic May Day festival Beltaine and other May Day traditions in Europe. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #1May #CalanMay #Cynteend #Wales
May 1, 2024
Today, Mayades take place in the Landes de Gascognes. A may (pine pole which is flowered/decorated, probably from the Beltane Celtic tradition) is planted on the night of April 30. On May Day, all kinds of celebrations take place, the traditions of which vary from one city to another. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #1May #Gascognes #Mayade #France
May 1, 2024
Today, the French treat themselves to May lily of the valley. The symbolism of the return of spring linked to this flower has its roots in Celtic traditions as well as Roman ceremonies performed in honor of Flora, goddess of flowers. The tradition of lily of the valley in May was formalized in 1561 by Charles IX who requested that the ladies of the court receive a lucky sprig every May 1st. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #May 1 #Muguet #CharlesIX
May 8, 2024 (2 events)
May 8, 2024
Today, in Orléans (France), the Johannine Festivals take place in honor of the deliverance, on May 8, 1429, by Joan of Arc of the city then besieged by the English. It is the occasion for a grand parade and a mass in the presence of high-ranking personalities. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8May #JeanneDArc #Orléans
May 8, 2024
Today, the people of Benelux celebrate Iris Day. An emblematic flower of Dutch know-how, whether in floral manipulation, perfume and even in the arts as evidenced by the love of this flower by great masters like Vincent Van Gogh, this day is an opportunity to pay tribute to the emblematic flower of the wealth and power of the Orange Republic. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8May #Netherlands #Belgium #Iris
May 9, 2024 (1 event)
May 9, 2024
Today, the Asatrus commemorate Gudbrandsdal Gudrod, known as the martyr. He was one of the five Novegian kings who opposed the forced Christianization by Saint Olaf in 1018. Warned of their plan, he took them prisoner, Olaf took possession of their kingdoms and founded the Kingdom of Norway. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #9May #Norway #SaintOlaf #Gudrod
May 11, 2024 (1 event)
May 11, 2024
Today and for 3 days, Europeans celebrate the Ice Saints. These saints were invoked by farmers and gardeners to anticipate the effect of a drop in temperature on crops, which could be observed during this period and which caused frost (phenomenon of the red moon). Once this period had passed, frost was no longer to be feared. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #May 11 #May 12 #May 13 #SaintMamer #SaintPancrace #SaintServais
May 23, 2024 (1 event)
May 23, 2024
Today, Vlach Day takes place in Romania. This people, probably of Thracian or Illyrian origin, has been Romanized. This is why they speak a Romance language unlike all neighboring peoples. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #May 23 1TP5Vlach #romania
Cultural areas in Europe
The history of Europe is one of the best documented, studied and known parts of world history and refers to all the events linked to the European continent, from the time it was populated by the first peoples until until today. According to the German monograph Minderheitenrechte in Europa co-edited by Pan and Pfeil (2002), there are 87 distinct peoples, of which 33 constitute the majority of the population in at least one sovereign state, while the remaining 54 constitute minority ethnic groups.
In ancient times, Indo-European peoples practiced cults that had many things in common. The Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, Greek and Latin mythological systems had common features, such as the belief in a fundamental divine "triad", and the division of men into several categories of distinct social rank.
In Europe, ancient religions are subdivided into:
- faith in the Aesir and the Vanirs, which we today call Odinism, according to Germanic mythology;
- faith in Scandinavian deities, according to Scandinavian mythology;
- Druidism and its late Irish variant, the religion of the Filid, according to Celtic mythology;
- orphism, according to Thracian and Dacian mythology;
- faith in Scythian deities, according to the Scythian religion;
- faith in Slavic deities, according to Slavic mythology;
- faith in Greek deities, according to Greek mythology;
- faith in Roman deities, according to Roman mythology;
- in the Roman Empire, in addition to the gods of Olympus, mystery cults were also practiced and, in late antiquity, primitive Christianity.
One of the common points between religions prior to Christianity is polytheism, sometimes pantheistic, sometimes animist.
Proselytism was not widespread among European peoples, each religion being that of a group of populations equally linked by language, and which had its own deities.
English 
Français