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                  CELTIC
                  
                   While 
                  there are numerous books on the subject, not much is known 
                  about the ancient "Celts". Much information has been 
                  derived from writings of the Greeks and Romans as well as 
                  archeological evidence, but the Celts kept their history 
                  verbally so no indigenous writings exist. 
                  The Roman conquest of Gaul and subsequent arrival of 
                  Christianity marked the beginning of the end for the Celts as 
                  a separate group. The Romans regarded Druidism as a pagan 
                  religion and tried to stamp it out. Although the Celts were 
                  assimilated into other peoples of Europe, the Celts were a 
                  definite racial group with a distinct language, culture, art 
                  and beliefs as late as the 17th century A.D. 
                  
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            May the blessing of light 
            be on you, light without and light within.  
            May the blessed sunlight 
            shine upon you and warm your heart till it glows,  
            Like a great peat fire, so that the stranger may come  
            and warm himself at it, as well as the friend.  
            And may the light shine 
            out of the eyes of you,  
            like a candle set in the windows of a house,  
            Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.  
            A Celtic Blessing of Light 
            
              
  
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