Also called Kernunnos, the Horned One.
Their story
No myths of Cernunnos survive. His name appears once, on the Pillar of the Boatmen from first-century Paris, above an antlered figure wearing torcs. A cross-legged antlered figure holding a torc and a ram-horned serpent, surrounded by animals, appears on the Gundestrup cauldron, and similar images appear across Gaul.
Their day
Thursday. In modern practice, some choose Thursday for him because of the coins and plenty shown on his images, which fit Jupiter and abundance.
Best times to give to them
- Beltane
- Samhain
- dusk in woodland
What they like being given
- acorns, nuts or seeds
- fallen antler or found feathers (never taken from living animals)
- a coin
- clean water
- bread or grain
How to honour them
- Walk in woodland quietly and give thanks for the animals you see.
- Pick up litter in wild places as an offering.
- Keep a torc, ring or found antler on your altar for him.
- Support wildlife charities or plant for pollinators in his name.
How they can help you
- connection with nature
- abundance
- wild instincts and vitality
- passing through major changes
Symbols
- antlers
- the torc
- the ram-horned serpent
- the stag
- coins
Very little is known of him from ancient sources, and the Horned God of Wicca is a largely modern figure inspired partly by him.
Festivals
- Beltane 1 May, from sunset on 30 April
More Celtic gods
- The Dagda The good god, father of all
- Lugh Master of all the arts
- Manannán mac Lir Lord of the sea and the Otherworld
- Aengus The young god of love
- Nuada The king with the silver hand
- Dian Cécht Physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Goibniu Smith of the gods and brewer of the feast
- Credne The bronze-worker of the Tuatha Dé