Wiccans only please...What are the origins of modern Wiccan mythology and practice?

Question

I am curious about the beginnings of what is commonly known as Wiccanism or Wicca. I already know about the beginnings of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths, for example. How far back does the Wiccan 'mythology' (for lack of a better term) go?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Greetings!

Not Celtic.

With that said, "Wicce", "Witan", all Angle words and concepts that were part of the "Old English" culture that displaced the British, Celt, and Welsh through generations of migrations from the Continent-

Ahem.......... Rising Sea levels forced the Folk along the Western shore of the Baltic to migrate to other countries-The Angles had been in Albion (England) for centuries, and had founded many Kingdoms, like Mercia, and, they had brought with them their Language, Religion, and Culture. The massive migrations forced the Angles and others to push for more land-sometimes peacefully, sometimes not.

Freya and Freyr-the "Lord" and the "Lady", Runes, Yule, Eostre, the Wheel of the Year, all were part of the "Old English" Culture that the modern word "Wicca" is derived from.

The Celts had, and still have, their own Gods, Language, Festivals, and it all was separate and different from the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, etc. They are not Wiccan as a Culture, but it is a personal choice rather than a Heritage

G.B.Gardner put together a "Mythology" by using what is now termed "eclectic" by taking a bit o` this, and a tad o` that, mix in a little Greek, Roman, Persian, and, POOF! A Religion!

He worked hard, wrote a lot, got some help from actual Magi, and so was Born "Wicca"!

The "New Forest Coven" that he claimed to have contacted might well have been a holdover from older times, but it is an actual source of what the "Witches of England" had become under the destructive domination of the Church. An eclectic mix of Folk Magic that survived by hiding.

Modern Wiccans know the History (for the most part) and they are committed to carry on, even with the questionable parts, to make this World a better place-with compassion, wisdom, and understanding as their Tools.

"Wiccan Mythology"? They are helping all of us to better understand ourselves and others by using ANY Ancient Knowledge-Knowledge which almost disappeared from this World, but is being reborn into our Lives-so, if they don`t really descend in an unbroken line from the Stone Age, they are at least giving us a look back in Time, at the World of our Ancestors, and what the World might have been if Peace, Love, and Knowledge had been preserved from the Destroyers.

/!\

Answer 2

The religion is known as Wicca. It's not called "Wiccanism." Wicca emerged publically in the 1950s, but it was probably in some sort of developmental form a couple decades earlier. Ronald Hutton's Triumph of the Moon is very thurough in tracking down where all the pieces comes from.

Fereshte's response is a classic example of what Wiccan history is NOT. Unfortunately, there's a large body of completely psuedohistory attached to the religion, although its slowly being weeded out. There's zero evidence to back up such claims.

Answer 3

The mythology goes back as far as religion itself, just like Christianity claiming more than 2000 year old roots and significance. Some Wiccans and other neo-pagans are more conscious of Reconstructionist parts of their religion than others. Wicca as a religion goes back to the 1950s or 1930s and Gerald Gardner (date varying depending on whether you count an event or book publication). It claimed then and now to be much older, based on surviving generations of pagan practice hiding within "Christian" communities.

Links with tons of information:

Answer 4

The belief is ancient and earth based, look up druids and Celts, but the actual practice of the modern version called Wicca was "created" by a man called Gerald Gardner in the late 50's. He wrote some books on the subject and ppl liked it and it spread furiously.

Not Wiccian but i am really facinated by all things ancient and, at its roots, Wicca is ancient.

Answer 5

Wicca is a religion rooted in the mists of Neolithic history… it is basically a fertility and agrarian society. It is a religion of nature worship and the subsequent interaction with nature that is dissented from that practice by the Celtic clans of Western Europe and the indigenous peoples of the British Isles, the builders of such monuments as Stonehenge.

Wicca originated among the Celts and other peoples who lived in the area now known as Great Britain. Wiccans celebrate the Earth and believe all living things have a spirit. They espouse pantheism and claim to see the divine in everyone. Most celebrate monthly rituals, or "esbats," centered on the lunar cycles, and eight annual Wiccan holy days, or "sabbats," centered around the solar cycles, solstices and equinoxes.

Additionally, as it has evolved from the Celts, it has held onto the ancient roots of goddess worship (the first worship in human history was to goddesses, not gods.)

Answer 6

I recommend Hutton's Triumph of the Moon (Oxford University Press, 2001) as a good source on the beginning of Wicca...

It is assuredly NOT Celtic.

Answer 7

Modern Wicca came from Gerald Gardener in the 1940s. He may have made it up, but claims its centuries old. Most likely it began in the 1920s based on combined euro-pagan beliefs.

It was started in England.

Answer 8

Wicca as a religion is relatively new, Gardner shared 'secrets' learned from ancient Pagan followers. The Pagan religion is one of if not the oldest religion in the world.

Answer 9

The belief systems go back many centuries. Gardner simply organized these beliefs recently.Wicca itself is based on very old beliefs in a very new body.

Edit to add Wow to the post below mine! great scholary synopsis.

Answer 10

Raymond Buckland I believe started Wicca many years ago. Raymond and a couple of others put there knowledge together and came up with Wicca.