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Is the world of the story a fantasy
place?
No! Night of the Fifth Moon is set in
ancient Ireland beginning in October of the year 415AD and ending in
March of 416AD. Details of lifestyle in the story are based on
historical research. For example, children really left home at
age seven to be fostered by other families. People thought this would
help build better bonds between families. |
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Did
the Battle of Moytura really happen? We
don't know, but the tale of the Battle of Moytura is a real old
Irish legend and you can read it on the internet. Try
this site. Night
of the Fifth Moon is set in the part of Ireland where people
believe the battle took place. Anna Ciddor visited this area and you
can see a photo in
Caught on Camera. |
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| Were druids real?
Yes! Druids were scholars, poets, healers, and king-makers. They
advised people when to plant crops and how to fight battles. They
were the only people who could read or write. Legends tell how
druids could foretell the future, and cast magic spells by standing
on one leg, closing one eye and pointing a finger. Legends also
mention the branches of bells and feather cloaks. |
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Is ogham a made-up code?
No! Ogham was a real alphabet used by the druids.
It is sometimes spelt 'ogam' and it is pronounced OH-em. |
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| Why is the moon so
important in the story? In ancient
times people relied on the changing phases of the moon to judge the
passing of time. Click here to
find out more about the moon. |
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| Are the festivals of
Imbolc and Samhain made-up? No! They
are real festivals from ancient times. The modern festival of
Halloween is based on the old festival of Samhain (pronounced
SOW-en). |
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