| Death to the Irish has always been looked on as | | | | close to this world in the memorial tradition, it is |
| completion of the circle of life, this circle is | | | | common for people to say before they pass on, |
| illustrated in Celtic crosses within in Celtic artwork, | | | | that they have seen a loved one who has gone |
| it is shown by the three connected spirals, as | | | | before them. It is also not unusual for this death |
| displayed in Newgrange, symbolising birth, life, | | | | to be pre-Informed. Death in Irish is called |
| death. Circles have always fascinated the Celtic | | | | “Bas”; it is not something that just |
| world and they are constantly present in Irish | | | | occurs, but rather an entity that you receive. |
| myths and legends. Time was circular, rather than | | | | Signs were traditionally, three knocks on the door, |
| linear, winter gave way to spring, and the cycle | | | | the cry of a banshee, animals coming in to your |
| began again. | | | | house. There are many different ways, but all |
| The period of mourning that is winter is | | | | were signs of “Bas” on the way. |
| immediately followed by spring and rebirth. The | | | | When it occurred, it was not a sad time, but |
| next worlds and this world are inextricably linked, | | | | when you entered the eternal life and left pain |
| it was not a sealed border, but liable to be | | | | and suffering behind. As it says in a traditional |
| crossed at anytime but especially at key dates | | | | prayer, about death “ I am going home |
| such as Samhain, from which the modern | | | | with thee, to thy home of Autumn, spring and |
| Halloween festival came from. People dressed up | | | | summer.” The cold, sleeping season of |
| in costumes so as to confuse the spirits of the | | | | winter, no longer exists. The body once the burial |
| dead, who crossed from their side to ours. Indeed | | | | began, was only seen as a shell. This was the |
| within the Irish tradition, this crossing was not | | | | reason behind the Irish wake, a |
| feared but respected, people wore costumes so | | | | “party” that symbolised the soul |
| that the spirits would not get lost in this world. | | | | being set free from its physical bounds. |
| The departed have always been considered still | | | | |