Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

CHAPTER II: THE RELIGION OF THE CELTS 73distinguish them in thought, but in practice they were inextricablyintertwined, and the Druidic organisation pervaded and orderedall. Can we now, it may be asked, distinguish among themwhat is of Celtic and what of pre-Celtic and probably non-Aryanorigin? This is a more difficult task; yet, looking at all theanalogies and probabilities, I think we shall not be far wrongin assigning to the Megalithic People the special doctrines, theritual, and the sacerdotal organisation of Druidism, and to theCeltic element the personified deities, with the zest for learningand for speculation; while the popular superstitions were merelythe local form assumed by conceptions as widespread as thehuman race. [91]The Celts of To-dayIn view of the undeniably mixed character of the populationscalled “Celtic” at the present day, it is often urged that thisdesignation has no real relation to any ethnological fact. TheCelts who fought with Caesar in Gaul and with the English inIreland are, it is said, no more—they have perished on a thousandbattlefields from Alesia to the Boyne, and an older racial stratumhas come to the surface in their place. The true Celts, accordingto this view, are only to be found in the tall, ruddy Highlandersof Perthshire and North-west Scotland, and in a few families ofthe old ruling race still surviving in Ireland and in Wales. Inall this I think it must be admitted that there is a large measureof truth. Yet it must not be forgotten that the descendants ofthe Megalithic People at the present day are, on the physicalside, deeply impregnated with Celtic blood, and on the spiritualwith Celtic traditions and ideals. Nor, again, in discussing thesequestions of race-character and its origin, must it ever be assumedthat the character of a people can be analysed as one analyses achemical compound, fixing once for all its constituent parts anddetermining its future behaviour and destiny. Race-character,potent and enduring though it be, is not a dead thing, cast in aniron mould, and thereafter incapable of change and growth. It is