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
June 8, 2024 (2 events)
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June 8, 2024
Today, the Asatrus celebrate Lindisfarne Day. On June 8, 793, the monastery of Lindisfarne was pillaged by a Viking raid. This day marks the golden age of the Vikings, known mainly for raids in Europe, but especially for fine explorers and traders from the lands of northern Europe. Vikings is not a people but only a name. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8June #Vikings #Asatru #Lindisfarne
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June 8, 2024
Today, and since the 5th century CE, French towns have chosen La Rosière. The tradition consists, originally, of giving a crown of roses (hence the name) to the young girl whose irreproachable conduct, virtue, piety and modesty have marked the village. This was instituted by Saint Médard in 525 in Salency in Oise. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8June #France #rosière
June 9, 2024 (1 event)
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June 9, 2024
Today, the Asatrus celebrate Siegfried (or Sigurd). Legendary Germanic hero, probably inspired by the great Germanic and Merovingian kings, Siegfried is one of the most important characters in Germanic/Norse mythology. He is the hero of Nibelungenlied, the Völsunga saga, and the Poetic Edda. Literature is as imposing as the Arthurian tradition in the Celtic world. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #9June #Asatru #Siegfried #Germany
June 11, 2024 (1 event)
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June 11, 2024
Today, and for two weeks, the Lendit fair takes place in the Saint-Denis plain in France. Becoming the largest fair in Europe since the 9th century CE, with the grandson of Charlemagne, the fair is known for having goods from the known world. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #fair #France #SaintDenis #June 11
June 21, 2024 (2 events)
June 21, 2024
On this day, the Celts, Germans and Saxons celebrated Litha, the summer solstice. This period would be favorable for magic such as love, healing, protection. It was replaced by the Christian feast of Saint John which keeps the rites. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #litha #saintjean #June 21
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June 21, 2024
On this day, many Germanic/Norse peoples celebrated Midsummer (Midsumor or Midsommar). As the solstice has been observed since Neolithic times, many peoples have performed rites on this particular day. Little by little dominated by Christianity during the Middle Ages until the early Middle Ages, the customs were incorporated into the feast of Saint John on June 24, then the only one authorized during the solstice. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #June 21 #midsummer #midsumor #midsommar
June 24, 2024 (2 events)
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June 24, 2024
Today, Estonians celebrate Jaanipäev (Saint John). The pre-Christian roots endure. Jaanipäev marks a change in the agricultural year, particularly the break between the end of spring sowing and the hard work of summer haymaking. Dancing, singing and jumping over a bonfire are also rites of this region. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #Jaanipaev #estonia #June 24
June 24, 2024
Today, Icelanders celebrate Jónsmessa. According to legends, cows gain the power to speak, seals become human, and it is healthy to roll naked in dew-covered grass. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #June 24 #island #jonsmessa
June 28, 2024 (1 event)
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June 28, 2024
Today, the Maltese celebrate Mnarja, Saints Peter and Paul. It dates back to the time of the Knights of Malta in the 16th century. The name derives from the Latin word “Luminare”, meaning to illuminate. And it was precisely the lighting of candles and torches that made people feel their participation in the celebrations. However, over the years, the festival is no longer just a religious commemoration, but has changed its face, being enriched with new elements. Typical traditional dishes, parties, bonfires and fireworks show the best of Maltese folk tradition. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #June 28 #mnarja #Malta
June 30, 2024 (1 event)
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June 30, 2024
Today, the Basques do the Alarde de San Marcial (Parade of Saint Marcial). A parade commemorates the victory of the troops of Irun over the French army on June 30, 1522. They parade through the streets of Irun and head to Mount Saint Marcial where a great patronal festival is celebrated in honor to the Saint. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #SaintMarcial #Irun #Basque #Euskadi #June 30
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.
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