A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

:OF THE DRUIDS. 121(by the way) prevail'd over all the world, the Celticnations kindled other fires on midsummer eve,which are stillof Ireland ;continu'd by the Roman Catholicsmaking them in all their grounds, andcarrying tlaming brands about theircorn-fields.This they do likewise all over France, and insome of the Scottish iles. These midsummer firesand sacrifices, were toobtain a blessing on thefruits of the earth, now becoming ready forgathering;as those of the first of May, that theymight prosperously grow :and those of the lastof October, were a thanksgiving for finishing theirharvest.But in all of 'em regard was also had tothe several degrees of increase and decrease in theheat of the sun; as in treating of their astronomy,and manner of reckoning time, we shallclearlyshow. Their other festivals with their peculiarobservations, shall be likewise explain'd each intheir proper sections; especially that of Newyear'sday, or the tenth of March (their fourthgrand festival) which was none of the least solemnand which w asthe day of seeking, cutting, andconsecrating their wonder-working. All-heal, ormisselto of oak. This is the ceremony to whichVirgilalludes by his golden-hranch, in the sixthbook of the Aeneid, for which there is incontestableproof, which we shall give in a section on this subject.'Tis Pliny who says, that the Druids call'dit, ia their language, by a word si^nifyino^ All-