What is the importance of sacred stories to the beliefs and practices of Celtic paganism?

Answer 1

Most spiritual paths have basic beliefs and stories. Celtic paganism is no different.

Early cultures used stories to teach their young about the culture, ethics, beliefs, history and legends that ruled and effected their lives.

The Celts particularly have an ancient tradition of oral history.

When you think of Bards, you are thinking of the people who were the walking encyclopedias; libraries; historical, legal, and traditions reference; they were even the local newspaper, post office and magazines of the time.

As each bard travelled from place to place, they carried stories of places they had been, messages for people from others far away, new laws that had been enacted, old histories and favourite tales, songs and everything else that a society that wrote things down kept in their books.

Even today, if you have ever sat at your dining room table, surrounded by your aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, and siblings, listening to family stories about great grand dad who came to this country from the old country, or how Uncle Bill learned how to milk a cow, or any of the other things you hear there, you are learning who you are, where you came from, what your family's ethics and beliefs are. They may not be "sacred" stories, but to your family they are equally important.

If you read bible stories or other religious books you are getting the sacred stories of that belief system. All cultures, spiritual paths, clans, and families have them, they are what makes us who we are.