NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Celtic countries

Celtic nations are areas of Europe inhabited by members of Celtic cultures, specifically speakers of Celtic languages. Since the mid-20th century, people of many nations and regions have used modern 'Celticity' to express their identity. Over time, these nations have come to be more or less widely labeled as Celtic. These Celtic places in Europe are sometimes also referred to as the "Celt belt" or "Celtic Fringe" owing to their location in the generally north-western part of the regions that they inhabit (e.g. Brittany is in the northwest of France, the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland and Ireland are in the northwest and west, respectively). However, these terms are sometimes interpreted as derogatory, so residents of these lands tend to prefer the term "Celtic nations". Image File history File links Celtic_Nations. ... Image File history File links Celtic_Nations. ... A Celtic cross. ... The Celtic languages are the languages descended from Proto-Celtic, or Common Celtic, spoken by ancient and modern Celts alike. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... This article concerns those peoples who consider themselves, or have been considered by others, to be Celts in modern times. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the six inhabited continents of the Earth. ... Traditional coat of arms Modern flag (Gwenn-ha-du) Historical province of Brittany rÃ©gion of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ... The Goidelic languages (also sometimes called the Gaelic languages or collectively Gaelic) are one of two major divisions of modern-day Insular Celtic languages (the other being the Brythonic languages). ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification...

At one time the whole British Isles was predominantly Cruthin/Celtic. The Romans called Britain Britannias and Britanniae after Britto meaning Cruithne, resulting in the word British, which in Old English implied an association with the whole British Isles[1]. Successive invasions supplanted the Brythonic language from most of Great Britain, but surprisingly the prefix Brit- is now more closely associated with Great Britain than with its Celtic roots. Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, and several thousand smaller surrounding islands and islets. ... The Cruithne or Cruthin were a historical people known to have lived in the British Isles during the Iron Age. ... The Roman Empire is the name given to both the imperial domain developed by the city-state of Rome and also the corresponding phase of that civilization, characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... For the asteroid sometimes (incorrectly) identified as Earths second moon, see 3753 Cruithne. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ...

The 'Six Nations'

It is these 'Six Nations' that (alone) are considered Celtic by the Celtic League, Celtic Congress, and various other pan-Celtic groups. Each of the six can boast a Celtic language of its own – the key criterion of Celticity for the organizations named. Image File history File links Flag_of_Brittany. ... Traditional coat of arms Modern flag (Gwenn-ha-du) Historical province of Brittany rÃ©gion of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cornwall. ... Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow) is a county in South West England on the peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_isle_of_man. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) Welsh, English Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056 Area - Total 20,779... The Celtic League is a political and cultural organisation in the modern Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man, as well as their Celtic languages // Aims The fundamental aim of the Celtic League is to contribute, as an international organisation, to the struggles of... The International Celtic Congress is a cultural organisation that seeks to promote the Celtic languagues of the nations of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. ... Pan-Celticism is the name given to a variety of movements that espouse greater contact between the various Celtic countries. ...

Four of the 'Six Nations' (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales) contain areas where a Celtic language is still used in a community (see Gaeltacht, Gàidhealtachd, and compare also Breizh-Izel and areas by Welsh language). Generally these communities are in the west of the countries, in upland or island areas, and sometimes claim to be more Celtic than the anglicised/gallicised areas of the east, and big cities. Gaeltacht regions in Ireland Gaeltacht (pronounced ; plural GaeltachtaÃ) is an Irish word for an Irish-speaking region. ... The GÃ idhealtachd, sometimes known as A GhÃ idhealtachd (the GÃ idhealtachd), usually refers to the Scottish Highlands in Scottish Gaelic. ... Basse-Bretagne (Breizh Izel in Breton) denotes the parts of Brittany west of PloÃ«rmel, where the Breton language was traditionally spoken, and where the culture associated with this language is most prolific. ... This is a List of Welsh principal areas by the percentage of those professing some skills in the Welsh language in the 2001 UK census. ...

Other claims

In general most countries of Western and Central Europe can be considered to have been influenced by the Celts. In a number of them, there are also 'Celtic' movements, wanting recognition as a Celtic Nation.

The Iberian Peninsula

Galicia (extended to Minho and Trás-os-Montes in northern Portugal) and Asturias are most often highlighted as areas influenced by Celtic culture. Image File history File links Celts_in_Europe. ... Image File history File links Celts_in_Europe. ... Galicia (Spain) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Historical province of Minho Minho is a historical province of Portugal. ... The historical province of TrÃ¡s-os-Montes e Alto Douro TrÃ¡s-os-Montes e Alto Douro (pron. ... Anthem: Asturias, patria querida Capital Oviedo Official language(s) Spanish; Asturian have special status Area â€“ Total â€“ % of Spain Ranked 10th 10,604 kmÂ² 2. ...

In none of these regions (Galicia, northern Portugal and Asturias) has a Celtic language survived, which means that the most common litmus test for Celticity does not apply. Galicia (Spain) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Anthem: Asturias, patria querida Capital Oviedo Official language(s) Spanish; Asturian have special status Area â€“ Total â€“ % of Spain Ranked 10th 10,604 kmÂ² 2. ...

However, speakers of a Brittonic (P-Celtic) language did historically emigrate to parts of Galicia and Asturias, as well as areas now in Portugal. A certain bishop Mahiloc (Old Welsh Mailoc) signed the Acta of the Second Council of Braga in 572. The Bishopric of Bretoña (from Britonia) existed until at least 830 and the area was known as Britonia until 1156 according to a privilegia of Alphonso III. This were not part of the pre-Roman Celtiberian group (a Q-Celtic group), but was settled as part of the same process of emigration from insular Britain that formed Brittany from the fifth century onwards.^[1] The Brythonic languages (or Brittonic languages) form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family. ... Anthem: Asturias, patria querida Capital Oviedo Official language(s) Spanish; Asturian have special status Area â€“ Total â€“ % of Spain Ranked 10th 10,604 kmÂ² 2. ... The Celtiberians dwelt in the Iberian Peninsula and spoke a Celtic language. ... Traditional coat of arms Modern flag (Gwenn-ha-du) Historical province of Brittany rÃ©gion of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ...

The main basis for these regions' present-day claim to Celticity is, rather, Celtic consciousness itself, which is justified in turn through similarities in music, dance, and folklore to Brittany and the other widely recognized Celtic countries. [2][3]

Cantabria (whose name is Celtic) and Portugal ("Lusitania") are occasionally suggested as other Celtic regions.

See also Nationalities in Spain. Anthem: Himno de Cantabria Capital Santander Official language(s) Spanish Area â€“ Total â€“ % of Spain Ranked 15th 5,321 kmÂ² 1. ... In red is the province of Lusitania within the Roman Empire, 120 AD Lusitania was an ancient Roman province approximately including current Portugal, except for the area between the rivers Douro and Minho (part of Hispania Tarraconensis), and part of modern day western Spain, the present autonomous communities of Extremadura... Historically, the modern country of Spain was formed by the accretion of several independent Iberian realms through dynastic inheritance, conquest and the will of the local elites. ...

Formerly Gaulish regions

Many of the French people themselves identify actively with the Gauls. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (787x799, 169 KB) Map of Gallia (58 BC) with important Tribes, Towns, Rivers etc. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (787x799, 169 KB) Map of Gallia (58 BC) with important Tribes, Towns, Rivers etc. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC - 50s BC - 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC Years: 59 BC 58 BC 57 BC 56 BC 55 BC 54 BC 53 BC 52 BC 51... Map of Gaul circa 58 BC Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ...

The French- and Arpitan-speaking Aosta Valley region in Italy also presents a casual claim of Celtic heritage and the Northern League autonomist party often exalts what it claims are the Celtic roots of Padania. Reportedly, Friuli also has an ephemeral claim to Celticity. Franco-ProvenÃ§al (FrancoprovenÃ§al) or Arpitan (in vernacular: patouÃ¨s) (in Italian: francoprovenzale, provenzale alpina, arpitano, patois; French: francoprovenÃ§al, arpitan, patois) is a Romance language with several dialects in a linguistic sub-group separate from Langue dOÃ¯l and Langue dOc. ... The Aosta Valley (in Arpitan: Val dOuta, French: VallÃ©e dAoste, Italian: Valle dAosta) is a mountainous and very silly and smelly region in north-western Italy. ... Northern League can mean: Northern League (baseball) for minor league baseball in the United States and Canada Northern League (football) (Albany Northern League) for the association football league in North East England Northern League (ice hockey) which existed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in Britain. ... Autonomism can refer to: Autonomism may refer to a bundle of left-wing movements historically bound-up with Italian Autonomist marxism. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The Northern Leagues proposed Padanian flag, the Sun of the Alps Padania is an alternative name for Northern Italy. ... Friulian Coats of Arms Friuli (Furlan: FriÃ»l, German: Friaul, Slovenian: Furlanija) is an area in northeastern Italy, comprising the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia. ...

Walloons are sometimes characterized as "Celts", mainly opposed to "Teutonic" Flemish and "Latin" French identities; the word "Walloon" derives from a Germanic word meaning "foreign", cognate with "Welsh". The term Walloons (French: Wallons, Walloon: Walons) refers, in daily speech, to French-speaking Belgians from Wallonia. ... Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) are inhabitants of Flanders in the widest sense of the term, i. ...

England

Celtic traditions and customs have continued in England, particularly in extremities of the south west and the north (see Devon, Northumbria and Cumbria). As a whole, England is not a Celtic country because it lacks a Celtic language; during the 'Celtic' era, Great Britain belonged to a number of regional Celtic tribes, none of whom directly ended up forming the English nation. In Celtic languages, it is usually referred to as "Saxon-land" (Sasann, Pow Saws, Bro-Saoz etc), and in Welsh as Lloegr. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2005 est. ... Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... Cumbria is a county in the North West region of England. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ...

Unlike many of the above examples, there is little political motivation behind this search for a more complex identity, but a recognition that local linguistic and cultural peculiarities can be traced back to Celtic origins. Cumbria, for example, retains some Celtic influences from local sports (Cumberland wrestling) to superstitions, and traces of Cumbric are still spoken, famously by shepherds to count their sheep. There has been a suggestion to bring back Cumbrian as a language and about 50 words of a reconstructed, hypothetical "Cumbric" exist. However, most competent scholars believe that it would little different to an archaic dialect of Northern Welsh, but the evidence is far too slight to make a meaningful attempt. The county is also home to the Rheged discovery centre profiling the Celtic history of Cumbria. Its name is cognate with Cymru, the Welsh name for Wales meaning Land of Comrades. Evolution and Extinction Cumbric was the Brythonic Celtic language spoken in much of Cumbria, Northern Northumbria, and parts of lowland Scotland until about the 11th century. ... Entrance to the Rheged Discovery Centre Rheged was a Brythonic nation of Sub-Roman Britain, where the natives spoke Cumbric. ...

English Celtic revivalism has not always been popular with its neighbours, many of whose own revivals have sought to counteract the majority culture of England within the United Kingdom. It also tends to be apolitical, in strict contrast to that of the "Six", Galicia or even Padania. Early revivalism concentrated on King Arthur, fairy and folklore and also Boudicca, whose statue stands outside the Palace of Westminster. Boudicca, who fought Roman imperialism, was looked up to by one or two Victorian English imperialists, who claimed "her new empire" was bigger than the Roman. Modern revivalism has focused more on music, mythology, rituals such as the Druids and a better understanding of Celtic festivals that have been observed in England since the Celtic period, and dialect or language. A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15c) by Peter Vischer. ... Boudicca (BOW-dicca [as in bow-and-arrow], mispronnounced by many as [bÅ«-dÄkÉ™]; her name means Victorous [Modern Gaelic Buaidheach]) (also written Boudica, Boadicea, Buduica, Bonduca) (d. ...

The Americas and beyond

In other regions, people with a heritage from one of the 'Celtic Nations' also associate with the Celtic identity. In these areas, Celtic traditions and languages are significant components of local culture. These include the Chubut valley of Patagonia with Welsh speaking Argentinians (known as "Y Wladfa"), Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, with Gaelic-speaking Canadians and southeast Newfoundland with Irish-speaking Canadians. Also at one point in 1900's there were well over 12000 Gaelic Scots from the Isle of Lewis living in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, with place names that still exist today recalling those inhabitants. The Chubut River is a river in Southern Argentina. ... In orange the area most commonly defined as Patagonia. ... Motto: En UniÃ³n y Libertad(Spanish) In Union and Freedom Anthem: Himno Nacional Argentino Capital (and largest city) Buenos Aires Spanish Government Federal republic - President NÃ©stor Kirchner - Vice President Daniel Scioli Independence from Spain - May Revolution 25 May 1810 - Declared 9 July 1816 - Recognized 1821 (by Portugal) Area... Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada NASA landsat photo of Cape Breton Island Cape Breton Island (French: Ã®le du Cap-Breton, Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Cheap Breatuinn, MÃkmaq: Ãšnamakika, simply: Cape Breton) is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages none (English, French, Gaelic) Flower Trailing arbutus Tree Red Spruce Bird Osprey Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation - House seats - Senate seats 11 10 Area... Canadian Gaelic (Gaelic: GÃ idhlig na Canada, French: GaÃ©lique Canadien, Mikmaq: Geileq mala Ganata) is the dialect of Scottish Gaelic formerly spoken across all of Canada, and still spoken on Cape Breton Island and in parts of Nova Scotia. ... Newfoundland â€” (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)â€” (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

In addition to these, a number of people from the USA, Australia and other parts of the former British Empire may consider themselves to have 'Celtic nationality'. The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ...

See also

A Celtic cross. ... Muiredacha Cross. ... Celtic Fusion is a broad umbrella term for modern music which incorporates traditional Celtic influences, or Celtic Music which incorporates modern music. ... Proto-Indo-European Indo-European studies Celtic languages are a branch of the Indo-European languages. ... Celtic music is a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... The Celtic Revival, also known as the Irish Literary Revival, was begun by Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn and William Butler Yeats in Ireland in 1896. ... Pan-Celticism is the name given to a variety of movements that espouse greater contact between the various Celtic countries. ... Latin Europe Countries where a Romance language is the national language Countries where a Romance language is one of several official languages Latin Europe (Italian/Spanish/Portuguese/Catalan: Europa latina; Romanian: Europa latinÄƒ; French: Europe latine; Franco-ProvenÃ§al: Eropa latina) is composed of those nations and areas in Europe... Countries where a West Slavic language is the national language Countries where an East Slavic language is the national language Countries where a South Slavic language is the national language Slavic Europe is a region of Europe where Slavic languages are spoken. ... Germanic Europe Green: Countries where a Germanic language is the national language Blue: Countries where a Germanic language is an official language Germanic Europe is the part of Europe in which Germanic languages are predominant. ... This article concerns those peoples who consider themselves, or have been considered by others, to be Celts in modern times. ...

References

LÃ©on Fleuriot (1923-1987) was a French academic specializing in Celtic languages (Old Breton, Welsh and Irish) and in history, particularly that of Gallo-Roman Brittany and of the Early Middle Ages. ...

External links

v • d • e

Celtic nations and their languages

Brittany/Breizh (Breton/Brezhoneg)

Cornwall/Kernow (Cornish/Kernewek)

Wales/Cymru (Welsh/Cymraeg)

(Brythonic languages) Image File history File links Flag_of_Brittany. ... Traditional coat of arms Modern flag (Gwenn-ha-du) Historical province of Brittany rÃ©gion of Bretagne, see Bretagne. ... Breton (Breton: Brezhoneg) is a Celtic language spoken by some of the inhabitants of Brittany (Breizh) and Loire-Atlantique (historically part of Brittany) in France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cornwall. ... Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow) is a county in South West England on the peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales. ... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) Welsh, English Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056 Area - Total 20,779... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... The Brythonic languages (or Brittonic languages) form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family. ...

/ Ireland/Éire (Irish/Gaeilge)

Isle of Man/Mannin (Manx/Yn Ghaelg)

Scotland/Alba (Scottish Gaelic/Gàidhlig)

(Goidelic languages) Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Northern_Ireland. ... A true colour image of Ireland, captured by a NASA satellite on 4 January 2003. ... Irish (), a Goidelic language spoken in Ireland, is constitutionally recognised as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland, and has official recognition in Northern Ireland as well. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_isle_of_man. ... Motto: Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (Latin) Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand Anthem: Isle of Man National Anthem Capital Douglas Largest city Douglas English, Manx Government Crown Dependency (UK) - Lord of Mann Elizabeth II - Lieutenant Governor Paul Haddacks - Chief Minister Donald Gelling - First Deemster Michael Kerruish - President of Tynwald Noel... Manx (Gaelg or Gailck), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Goidelic language spoken on the Isle of Man. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification... // Scottish Gaelic (GÃ idhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. ... The Goidelic languages (also sometimes called the Gaelic languages or collectively Gaelic) are one of two major divisions of modern-day Insular Celtic languages (the other being the Brythonic languages). ...

Contents

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