Hello One and All
On the 31st of October the Gaelic people observe Samhain, which is a festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the inception of winter. According to Celtic pagan beliefs, this was also a time when the borders between the living and the Otherworld became weak, and when supernatural elements could cross over with ease. It was thought that the aos sí (a supernatural race in Celtic mythology) and spirits of the dead could visit mortals, as a result families left offerings of food outside to appease them. Bonfires were also frequently lit, around which various activities took place, such as masquerading in costumes, with the intention of fooling the spirits. The Adventure of Nera takes place during this night, which is so full of importance for Celtic pagans.
Samhain and the Adventure of Nera
One night long ago, King Aillil, the ruler of Connacht, was seated with his warriors at the fort at Cruachan. Whilst they waited for their food to be readied, the ruler challenged his fighters with a quest.
"Anyone who is brave enough to tie a vine around the ankle of the deceased prisoner outside will be rewarded with whatever he wishes."
The hall went silent. It was Samhain, and it was known that during the period there could be any number of terrors out in the dead of night. A couple of men stood up and moved towards the door, but when they reached it their bravery deserted them and they returned to their seats.
A young warrior, called Nera, stood up. "I will complete it."
Without another word he stepped outside of the fort and into the dark.
Nera felt his own pulse throb in his neck but didn't dare stop walking onward. He reached the gallows and tied the vine around the ankle of the prisoner, whom had been hanged earlier in the day. A sound came from above.
"You are brave," the corpse whispered. "Could you do me a favour though, Warrior? I would greatly appreciate it if you could carry me towards a drink; I was so thirsty when I died."
Not wanting to deny the wish of a deceased person, Nera allowed the revived corpse to climb onto his back and started to carry him to the nearest house.
When they came to the first house, the deceased prisoner said, "Let us move on, for there is no drink nor hearth fire in this place."
At the second house, he spoke again, "We needn't go into this place - there isn't any kind of tub filled with water here."
The undead man was quiet when they arrive at the third house, and Nera set him down onto the floor. Inside the dwelling there were bathing- and washing tubs filled with water, and a slop pail lay next to them on the floor. The deceased prisoner took a sip from each of them, then spit the water at the family in the home, which killed the people instantly. Henceforth people never kept a fire unraked or containers filled with water after they went to sleep.
Nonetheless, the young warrior had a promise to fulfill and he carried the corpse back to the gallows and hung him up again. While Nera walked back to the fort, the warrior saw a group of arsonists set fire to the fort, and all around the countryside people were being beheaded by soldiers, but then the raiders started to march away from the carnage and into the Owneygat cave. Nera trailed after them, deeper and deeper into the earth. The king of the army, an aos sí, noticed the mortal man following his host and bellowed for Nera to explain why he followed them.
"I came in with your army," said Nera.
"Go to the house over there, and tell the woman that I was the one who sent you. Also, make sure to bring firewood to the home each day."
When the aos sí woman and Nera met each other, they became infatuated with each other that instant, and married that very day. Every day the warrior carried to the house, and on each occasion a blind and a lame man would exit the house and walk to the well.
At the end of the third day Nera asked his wife, "Why do the lame and blind man visit the well?"
"That has an easy answer, my beloved: they check on the crown kept inside of the well." said his wife. "Furthermore, I must tell you to return to your people and tell them to be careful next Samhain night, because the aos sí army will be mobilized and the gates will be opened. If the humans come to fight bravely, then the crown of Briun will be given to Medb and Aillil."
"But all of Cruachan was destroyed; how can I possibly warn them?"
"What you saw wasn't reality," she said, "but rather what could happen if you fail in your mission..." The aos sí woman picked plants of summer - a golden fern, primroses and wild garlic - so that he could show it as proof of his time spent in the hill.
Nera returned to the mortal world, and when he walked into the palace he found his comrades seated around the bubbling pot, just as he had left them that Samhain night. King Aillil gave him his prize - a mighty golden sword. Nera warned the people of Cruachan of the threat and the kingdom took it to heart, because they prepared for over a year for the momentous Samhain expedition. When the appointed night rolled around, Nera rescued his wife, and the assault on the Hill of Cruachan was carried out, and the crown of Briun was retrieved. The tragic future was averted and the mortal kingdom was able to exist for many more moons.
Thank you for reading!
On the 31st of October the Gaelic people observe Samhain, which is a festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the inception of winter. According to Celtic pagan beliefs, this was also a time when the borders between the living and the Otherworld became weak, and when supernatural elements could cross over with ease. It was thought that the aos sí (a supernatural race in Celtic mythology) and spirits of the dead could visit mortals, as a result families left offerings of food outside to appease them. Bonfires were also frequently lit, around which various activities took place, such as masquerading in costumes, with the intention of fooling the spirits. The Adventure of Nera takes place during this night, which is so full of importance for Celtic pagans.
Samhain and the Adventure of Nera
One night long ago, King Aillil, the ruler of Connacht, was seated with his warriors at the fort at Cruachan. Whilst they waited for their food to be readied, the ruler challenged his fighters with a quest.
"Anyone who is brave enough to tie a vine around the ankle of the deceased prisoner outside will be rewarded with whatever he wishes."
The hall went silent. It was Samhain, and it was known that during the period there could be any number of terrors out in the dead of night. A couple of men stood up and moved towards the door, but when they reached it their bravery deserted them and they returned to their seats.
A young warrior, called Nera, stood up. "I will complete it."
Without another word he stepped outside of the fort and into the dark.
 |
| JG O'Donoghue's artist impression of Rathcroghan Mound at Cruachan. |
Nera felt his own pulse throb in his neck but didn't dare stop walking onward. He reached the gallows and tied the vine around the ankle of the prisoner, whom had been hanged earlier in the day. A sound came from above.
"You are brave," the corpse whispered. "Could you do me a favour though, Warrior? I would greatly appreciate it if you could carry me towards a drink; I was so thirsty when I died."
Not wanting to deny the wish of a deceased person, Nera allowed the revived corpse to climb onto his back and started to carry him to the nearest house.
When they came to the first house, the deceased prisoner said, "Let us move on, for there is no drink nor hearth fire in this place."
At the second house, he spoke again, "We needn't go into this place - there isn't any kind of tub filled with water here."
The undead man was quiet when they arrive at the third house, and Nera set him down onto the floor. Inside the dwelling there were bathing- and washing tubs filled with water, and a slop pail lay next to them on the floor. The deceased prisoner took a sip from each of them, then spit the water at the family in the home, which killed the people instantly. Henceforth people never kept a fire unraked or containers filled with water after they went to sleep.
Nonetheless, the young warrior had a promise to fulfill and he carried the corpse back to the gallows and hung him up again. While Nera walked back to the fort, the warrior saw a group of arsonists set fire to the fort, and all around the countryside people were being beheaded by soldiers, but then the raiders started to march away from the carnage and into the Owneygat cave. Nera trailed after them, deeper and deeper into the earth. The king of the army, an aos sí, noticed the mortal man following his host and bellowed for Nera to explain why he followed them.
"I came in with your army," said Nera.
"Go to the house over there, and tell the woman that I was the one who sent you. Also, make sure to bring firewood to the home each day."
 |
| Entrance to Owneygat cave. |
When the aos sí woman and Nera met each other, they became infatuated with each other that instant, and married that very day. Every day the warrior carried to the house, and on each occasion a blind and a lame man would exit the house and walk to the well.
At the end of the third day Nera asked his wife, "Why do the lame and blind man visit the well?"
"That has an easy answer, my beloved: they check on the crown kept inside of the well." said his wife. "Furthermore, I must tell you to return to your people and tell them to be careful next Samhain night, because the aos sí army will be mobilized and the gates will be opened. If the humans come to fight bravely, then the crown of Briun will be given to Medb and Aillil."
"But all of Cruachan was destroyed; how can I possibly warn them?"
"What you saw wasn't reality," she said, "but rather what could happen if you fail in your mission..." The aos sí woman picked plants of summer - a golden fern, primroses and wild garlic - so that he could show it as proof of his time spent in the hill.
 |
| Samhuinn Fire Festival in Edinburgh, 31 October 2016. Photographer: Martin McCarthy |
Nera returned to the mortal world, and when he walked into the palace he found his comrades seated around the bubbling pot, just as he had left them that Samhain night. King Aillil gave him his prize - a mighty golden sword. Nera warned the people of Cruachan of the threat and the kingdom took it to heart, because they prepared for over a year for the momentous Samhain expedition. When the appointed night rolled around, Nera rescued his wife, and the assault on the Hill of Cruachan was carried out, and the crown of Briun was retrieved. The tragic future was averted and the mortal kingdom was able to exist for many more moons.
Thank you for reading!
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