Celtic and Nordic Paganism | What Are the Differences?

Witchy Wisdom
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Thank you for sharing this @john1 ! Great information

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The video overall is okay, but I do have some very important distinctions and corrections to point out.

First, using the word “Celtic” to talk about these deities isn’t quite accurate. While the Irish Gods he’s speaking of are Celtic, not all Celtic deities are Irish. Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, and other Celtic nations all have their own Gods and I think knowing that distinction is important.

He mentions the similarities between The Dagda and Odin saying that they’re both considered gods of war. However, that isn’t accurate for The Dagda. In the Irish belief system, it’s important to understand that the cultural context of these deities wasn’t like that of the Greek or Norse Gods. There are no “Gods of [insert thing here]” – (which as I keep watching, he does mention this around the 8:50 mark). Instead, there are Gods who have different associations but no one God who is the “ruler” or “leader” of certain topics. While The Dagda may have fought in wars, he is not a God of War. Instead, his epithets are more about abundance, strength, and leadership.

The Dagda has several other names or epithets which reflect aspects of his character.

  • Eochu or Eochaid Ollathair (“horseman, great father” or “horseman, all-father”)
  • Ruad Rofhessa (“mighty one/lord of great knowledge”)
  • Dáire (“the fertile one”)
  • Aed (“the fiery one”)
  • Fer Benn (“horned man” or “man of the peak”)
  • Cera (possibly “creator”),
  • Cerrce (possibly “striker”)
  • Easal
  • Eogabal

– The Dagda - Wikipedia

Jacob then talks about the God of Smithing, Goibniu (pronounced “gwive-new”). Again, calling Goibniu the God of Smithing isn’t accurate. He isn’t the only deity associated with smithing, and Goibniu is also very heavily associated with hospitality. While he does make the weapons for the Tuatha de Danann, he is also said to have a magical cow of abundance and serves feasts for the Gods. The other deity associated with smithing is Brighid.

Just a note about Manannán mac Lir – while he is a God of the Sea, his name also alludes to an older sea god, Lir. “Mac” means “son of”, so it is Manannán son of Lir. There is a lot of information about Manannán but I believe there is very little, if any, surviving information about Lir.

Anyway - that’s just my thoughts as an Irish-focused Celtic Pagan lol thanks for sharing the video!

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