To the Celts, time was circular rather than linear. This is reflected in their commencing each day, and each festival, at dusk rather than dawn, a custom comparable with that of the Jewish Sabbath. It is also reflected in their year beginning with the festival of Samhain on 31 October, when nature appears to be dying down. Tellingly, the first month of the Celtic year is Samonios, ‘Seed Fall’: in other words, from death and darkness springs life and light. At times when I run a song pops in my head that fits the mood or scenary of the run. My most recent run took me on a trail with sections covered in pine needles. Portions of these lyrics ran through my head:
Celtic New Year by Van Morrison If I don't see you through the week See you through the window See you next time that we're talking on the telephone And if I don't see you in that Indian summer Then I want to see you further on up the road I said, oh won't you come back? I have to see you my dear Want you come back in the Celtic New Year? In the Celtic New Year If I don't see you when I'm going down Louisiana If I don't see you when I'm down on Bourbon Street If you don't see me when I'm singing Jack of Diamonds If you don't see me when I'm on my lucky streak Woa, I want you, want you to come on back I've made it very clear I want you to come back home in the Celtic New Year Celtic New Year If I don't see you when the bonfires are burning, burning If I don't see you when we're singing the Gloriana tune If I've got to see you when it's raining deep inside the forest I got to see you at the waning of the moon Said oh, won't you come on back? Want you to be of good cheer Come back home on the Celtic New Year Celtic New Year, Celtic New Year Celtic New Year In the Celtic New Year In the Celtic New Year Come on home, come on home, come on home, come on home In the Celtic New Year
