Several significant historical events led to the appearance and development of the language which we now call English. The first mentioning of Britain dates back to the 4th century BC and the people who lived there were called Britons. They belonged to the Celtic race and the language they spoke was Celtic. The Britons were governed by a class of priests, called the druids, who had great power over them. Few traces of the Celtic language are to be found in the English today. For example:
Stratford- on – Avon: Avon – river
Loch Ness: Loch – lake
The Celt’s Culture
The Celts came to the British Isles from France about 3000 years ago. The language they spoke was Celtic, their culture, that is to say, their way of thinking and their understanding of nature were very primitive. The Celts were strong, tall fighters who learned to mine tin and to carry on trade with their neighbors. They absorbed the early Britons and became the ancestors of the Scotch, Irish and Welsh people. Celtic tribes called the Picts penetrated into the mountains in the North. Some Picts as well as the tribes of Scots settled in the North. The Scots came in such large numbers that in time the name of Scotland was given to the country. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Britons, held most of the country. Celts had no towns and lived in villages. They were acquainted with the use of copper, iron and tin, they kept large herds of cattle and sheep. They also cultivated crops. The Britons were more civilized than other tribes. Their clothing was made of wool, woven in many colors, while other tribes wore skins.
Celts worshipped nature and believed in many gods. The Druids, a class of priests, who were skillful in teaching and administration, governed the Britons. They met in dark thick woods called Sacred Groves, wearing white robes. Little is known of their religion for sure, except the fact that the Druids had great power over the Britons. They led religious ceremonies, settled legal disputes, etc., in short, they were lawgivers. They sacrificed not only animals but also human beings to their gods. Victims were placed into baskets and burnt.Another ceremony was the cutting of the mistletoe that grew on oak trees, a custom that English people still remember at Christmas. Like all the ancient peoples the Celts made up many legends about their gods and heroes, they were called Sagas. The heroes of those Sagas and their adventures were imaginary. However, they give us an idea of the Celtic way of life, their occupations, tools, weapons, customs and religion. The greatest hero of such sagas was Cuchulainn According to the legends he lived in Ireland (Ulster). Cuchulainn was the greatest champion, like Achilles a Greek hero.
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