The Coligny Calendar.
You may not be aware of that.
[most of what little evidence is extant comes from the Gaulish records, therefore they are the best surviving *written* documentation]
I used the Wiki page simply because I didn't want to “aim to high” for you and thought something simple would suffice.
BTW, I own books on this subject that you couldn't afford to buy.
I found Frazer's “Golden Bough” amusing but not enough so to ever read another of his works.
What I own are dry, dusty, tedious archaeological/anthropological tomes that trace the migrations of the proto-Celtic/IE peoples from their origins to the “modern” Celts.
Hutton's “Pagan Religions of the British Isles” was quaint but I question his motives.
[as do many others]
http://www.suppressedhistories.net/articles/hutton_review.html
Go read the CARMINA GADELICA instead.
It's contemporaneous.
You may not be aware of that.
Yes, I'm aware of the calendar. I'm also aware that it was discovered in fragments and the reconstuctions and interpretations of it are highly contested and quite speculative.
BTW, I own books on this subject that you couldn't afford to buy.
I don't doubt that you own books on this subject that I wouldn't bother reading were they given to me. I suspect that instead of archeological reports/monographs you have warmed-over rehashes of 19th century diffusionist and mystical "scholarship."
What I own are dry, dusty, tedious archaeological/anthropological tomes that trace the migrations of the proto-Celtic/IE peoples from their origins to the “modern” Celts.
Well, no doubt your booksellers are quite happy, but I fail to see how the mere ownership of some books translates into your addressing the issue at hand. The books on your shelf are silent. Do you have an argument to back up your blunt assertion that "Halloween is the Celtic “New Year’s Eve” celebration. Nothing more, nothing less," or not?
Hutton's “Pagan Religions of the British Isles” was quaint but I question his motives.
Hutton's discussion of "Samhain" in PRBI was interesting, but his demolition of the Samhain-Halloween connection (and much more) in his _Stations of the Sun_ is more complete and more convincing.
Your "debunk Hutton" link leads to a hilariously bad feminist site that promotes articles on "The Secret History of Witches" and "Rebel Shamans." LOL! I'll trust Hutton over the ramblings of Max Dashu any day. If that's your idea of good scholarship, then I can see why you post silly things like "Halloween is the Celtic “New Year’s Eve” celebration. Nothing more, nothing less."
Go read the CARMINA GADELICA instead. It's contemporaneous.
Contemporaneous with what period of Celtic history?
Why should I bother to read a book on Scottish folklore? Can you give a reason?
I suggest you read Hutton's _The Stations of the Sun_, specifically Chapters 35-37. Reason: it demolishes the idea that there was a Pan-Celtic Samhain/New Year's Eve Celebration, and also knocks down your assertion about the Halloween/Samhain connection.