Pre-Christian pagn traditions in the Alps

[Oregon Alley Cat]

I am mainly Irish and Swiss by heritage, though I tend to identify more with my Swiss heritage. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding information about the pre-Christian beliefs of my ancestors. I have read about Krampus, Badalisc, but little else. Have checked my county library and found nothing. No university library nearby and internet searches have been hit and miss, but mainly miss. Thanks for anyone help anyone can offer.

 

[Ben-Tanit]

The Swiss (some believe) descend from a Celtic tribe that resided in present-day Switzerland - the Helvetii (Helvetics).

They probably worshiped traditional Celtic gods.

You can try that

 

[mimpibird39]

It looks like parts of Switzerland were mostly part of the Gaul lands and other parts were part of Germania. And maybe part of Rome too. The Gauls were Celtic. There's different types of Celtic paganism (Gaul, Irish, Welsh, etc.) and each Celtic tribe/people had their own gods, There might have been differences in the way gods were worshiped too.

One of the most popular Gualish goddesses was Epona. She was a Gual-Roman goddess and was very popular among Romans.

The ancient Gauls practiced animism. A lot of their deities were connected to places in nature like lakes and mountains. Druidry was also widely practiced so you might want to look into that too.

 

[EyeofOdin]

I'm pretty sure that the Helvetians were Germanic peoples.

But yes, Swiss heritage is a combination of Germanic and Celtic heritage. Anyone in France, Spain, Northern Italy and England DEFINITELY has Celtic, Italic and Germanic blood.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm pretty sure that the Helvetians were Germanic peoples.

They were Gallic, so they were Celts.

 

[EyeofOdin]

They were Gallic, so they were Celts.

Many people cited as Gaulish weren't Celtic.

"All of Gaul is divided into three parts. One of which the Belgians live, another the Aquatians, the third which by their language the Celts, by ours they are called the Gauls."- Caesar

The Belgians were of Germanic Ancestry, and later the Franks would move into Gaul, which were another Germanic tribe.

But you're right. I only said that I was "pretty sure" that the Helvetians were Germanic peoples, leaving room for error.

At the time of making that post, I couldn't find anything saying definitively that the Helvetians were either Celtic or Germanic, because it's hard to say when talking about Gaul, since there were many migrations of Celtic and Germanic clans.

 

[EyeofOdin]

I am mainly Irish and Swiss by heritage, though I tend to identify more with my Swiss heritage. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding information about the pre-Christian beliefs of my ancestors. I have read about Krampus, Badalisc, but little else. Have checked my county library and found nothing. No university library nearby and internet searches have been hit and miss, but mainly miss. Thanks for anyone help anyone can offer.

I might want to also add that the Romans had travelled far across Europe and the Mediterranean, and occupied all places except for Germania, Scandinavia and Russia, although travelled. Celts have invaded everywhere from Ireland to Greece. Germanic peoples have migrated and conquered everywhere from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and The Middle East. etc. If you have ancestry in Europe, I guarantee you that you have ancestors from every country in Europe, North Africa and most likely further. People travelled and mixed then, as they still do. There is no such thing as a pure races.

By example: Most of my ancestry is from Germany, but even if I tried to claim that all of my ancestors were from Germany all the way back to when it was called Germania, I'd still have mix heritage because the huns, Roman historians and traders, Slavs, Celts and even Arabians travelled, traded or conquered in Germany, which leads to different ethnicities in the population which leads to intermixing.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Many people cited as Gaulish weren't Celtic.

"All of Gaul is divided into three parts. One of which the Belgians live, another the Aquatians, the third which by their language the Celts, by ours they are called the Gauls."- Caesar

The Belgians were of Germanic Ancestry, and later the Franks would move into Gaul, which were another Germanic tribe.

But you're right. I only said that I was "pretty sure" that the Helvetians were Germanic peoples, leaving room for error.

At the time of making that post, I couldn't find anything saying definitively that the Helvetians were either Celtic or Germanic, because it's hard to say when talking about Gaul, since there were many migrations of Celtic and Germanic clans.

Well...

The Helvetians, who are remembered in the Latin name for Switzerland, Helvetia, were a Celtic tribe first mentioned at the end of the 2nd century BC.
Celts and other peoples - Switzerland - Information

Helvetians, the ancient Celtic inhabitants of what is now western Switzerland. In 102 B.C. they invaded Italy, but were defeated by Marius. Julius Caesar routed them in 58 B.C., when they tried to cross into Gaul (France). The land of the Helvetians became part of the Roman Empire, and the inhabitants accepted Latin civilization. In the fourth century A. D. the region was overrun by Germanic tribes, and the Helvetians lost their identity among the invaders. Helvetia is the classical name for Switzerland.
http://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/helvetians.htm

You have a point about the Gauls, though. Thanks for the info.