Wild Geese Hail the Vernal Equinox

The Hill of Slane, where where Christianity met prehistory

The Spring equinox is a celebration of light over darkness, and like the other seven ancient festivals celebrated over the last five thousand years has been determined by precise solar alignments.The mystical Mound of Knowth, built all those years ago by the Tuatha De Danann, celebrates both the rising and the setting of the sun on this day. Bonfires to signal the event were lit, and conveyed the message throughout Ireland and on to Alba, Cymru, Kernow and Manann. These celebrations were continued by the Celts when they arrived with due ceremony and sanctity. All awaited the sight of the sacred flame, and when one Spring a Druid of a rival god named Patrick announced his arrival by lighting a fire on the neighbouring hill of Slane, just a couple of days earlier, all Ireland took notice! What a way to announce your arrival!

When we celebrated that same 'druid' the other day in Prague we were following in the footsteps of the Irish Franciscans who began, in 1629, the tradition of celebrating Patrick, along with their mentor in Rome, Luke Wadding (who had been tipped to become the first Irish Pope!). The Franciscans had enshrined a sacred relic of St Patrick in the new church (now the Divadlo Hybernia) and were the focal point for the many Irish military and professional ex-pats in Czechia at the time. While the monastery and college was demarcated on strict provincial grounds (all provinces had to have fair representation!), St Patrick's Day became the unifying factor which all could celebrate together.

As we are all exhausted from the wonderful extravaganza experienced over the weekend, we will celebrate this equinox more sedately! Kayti Selbie gave a powerful presentation last Spring which is still highly relevant and which you can find on our website.

So celebrate, albeit sedately, but celebrate!

Seán O'Sullivan, The Wild Geese Society of Czechia [March 20, 2025]