Can you Practice Celtic Paganism and Roman Paganism in one religious System?

Question

i somebody who is of Roman and Celtic ancestry, she practices the Ancient Pre-Christian Roman religion, and has some beliefs from celtic mythology, she sometimes feels her "inner druid breaking away from it's cage", what should i do about the Roman Druid?
no condemning or criticising
(sorry, not very good english)

Answer 1

Not really in one religious system, no, but only because there are clashes in some interpretations/traditions. However you could merge the two, which you'll find alot of neo-paganist practices do, to form a more cohesive spiritual path for yourself. Remember truth is found in the universal picture, not in one spot of colour.

Answer 2

The Celts and the Romans don't always get along too well. I'm not sure the Romans ever forgave us for sacking their city. Talk about touchy. ;)

From the Roman angle, it's certainly fine - they tended to combine/equate their deities to the local deities, so you'll see shrines to, for instance, Minerva Sulis. They worshipped those amalgamations in the "Roman manner" so to speak - they added a few local touches for flair, but it was mostly Roman-style worship.

From the Celtic angle, they're used to the various tribes honoring different gods, so that part likely wouldn't be an issue. They might take issue with the style of worship - the historical record shows the Celts mocked the Romans on how they worshipped.

A number of the virtues each side held dear applied to both, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. Cultural differences could cause a little bit of a problem, though.

Overall, it's possible to practice both, though not easy - and syncretizing the two of them would take a bit more work, though there is historical precedence. Not for the faint of heart, though, so she might want to do some soul-searching.

Answer 3

Paganism is believing in or relating to an ancient polytheistic or pantheistic religion. Those were as diverse as religions are today.

Christianity, I'm sure you are aware, took Celtic and Roman pagan feast days and turned them into Christian holidays.

Christmas was the same time as the festival of Saturnia. Easter came during the time of spring when renewal and rebirth explained why winter ended and leaves again began to bud from trees. "Resurrection" is the same thing. That's why Easter bunnies and eggs have NOTHING to do with Christianity. People just never wanted to give up those traditions.

To the Romans, any group of people who were illiterate, were called barbarians. It meant they had no written language which, like the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans was essential for building an empire.

Religions are only means to explaining the unexplainable depending on which culture is defining the gods.

Believe what you want, and just let the others have their own beliefs, as idiotic as they may seem.

Answer 4

Yes the Celts and Romans sometimes worshiped each others Gods.A lot of the known Celt Gods have Roman counterparts.I'm a Eclectic Celtic Pagan and have studied this type of thing for about 3 of my 9 years as a Pagan.

Answer 5

Yes.
It was not uncommon for Celts in Roman lands to practice their indigneous beliefs AND the Roman civic religion.

Unlike the silliness of Christians exhibited here, most people throughout time have accepted the following of two noncompeting religions by the same person.

Answer 6

I see no reason why not... I practice Celtic Faerie Shamanism, which is also pre-Christian in origin, yet I also have very strong ties to the ancient Norse. I just have to be very careful not to "mix and match" the two diety systems in any single working. It is not, for example, good to work with Cailleach (Celtic) and Hella (Norse), or to pair Odin (Norse) and Lugh (Celtic), or Cailleach and Odin, etc., in the same sitting for the same purposes. That would result in a very large, excrutiating "KABOOM" incident of which I am unwilling to face the consequences of, lol.

Pre-Christian Roman and Celtic belief systems have already been merged, due to Roman invasion of Brittain. The Celts had to absorb Roman ways to survive. So even though the two cultures are very different, they had to learn to live together. This might be a starting point for your friend, where she can learn how to make the two systems work together for her practice to flourish. Lots and lots of studying of both cultures will be in order to find the common ground, but what an exciting challenge! :)

For example, for me the "common ground" is found in being very sensitive to my dieties' instructions, who is talking to me when, who is currently training me, etc. It takes a lot of patience, and slowing down to be "in tune" with these energies, but it has been the most rewarding thing I've ever endeavored to do in my life. Good luck to your friend!

Answer 7

it's generally considered okay to mix-and-match from traditions that were virtually stamped out (rather than appropriating a still-existing tradition, like a Native American system; that becomes a form of imperialism).

Roman and Celtic systems don't seem like an ideal match to me, but if it works for her, do it. Etruscan seems like a better match with Celtic, in my opinion.

"Roman Druid" seems like an oxymoron to me. I can't help you on that part.

Answer 8

Well both systems used representations of the way the world worked through using human like characters they made as deities. The Celts were the earliest culture to convert to Christianity, because they no longer had to pray to many gods they could worship one god. Some of the pagan of both Rome and early Celtic practices had been absorbed into the Roman catholic faith to convert early believers of both religions.
So you would be practicing both faiths if you were Roman Catholic. That is why I am non-denominational christian. I have a lot of Celtic roots and I still make a lot of Celtic art, but I followed the paths of my ancestors and only go to the one God that created us all. It is simpler, but I think everyone has to walk in there own faith to know what is right for them so good luck in your quest for knowledge.

Answer 9

Romans did not have druids, so don't worry about it. As a Celt I think you need to study our ways, then you won't be asking this question. Good luck.

Answer 10

Although many Pagans do mix and match Gods and Goddesses and traditions from other cultures, it really isn't advisable. Though there are many similarities in the various Gods and Goddesses and their practices, there are too many cultural differences.
In my opinion you should either stick to the one of your ancestry or adopt one from another culture and immerse yourself in that culture.
But that's just my opinion