Pan-Celticism facts for kids
Pan-Celticism is a movement that encourages friendship and teamwork among the Celtic nations and modern Celtic people in Northwestern Europe. It's also known as Celticism or Celtic nationalism. These nations include both the Brythonic and Gaelic branches. Some groups want the Celtic nations to leave the United Kingdom and France and form their own united country. Others simply want these independent Celtic nations to work very closely together. This includes Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish, and Welsh nationalism.
Like other movements that bring together people from similar backgrounds, Pan-Celticism grew from a time called Romantic nationalism. It was also inspired by the Celtic Revival, a period when people became very interested in Celtic culture again. The Pan-Celtic movement was most popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries (from about 1838 to 1939). Early connections happened through events like the Gorsedd and the Eisteddfod. The yearly Celtic Congress started in 1900. Since then, the Celtic League has become a main group for political Pan-Celticism. When people talk about cultural teamwork, like music or art festivals, they often use the term inter-Celtic.
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Understanding the Term "Celts"
There's some discussion about the word "Celts." For example, the Celtic League once debated if Galicia in Spain should be included. They decided against it because Galicia no longer has a living Celtic language.
Some people from Austria believe they have Celtic roots. Their Celtic heritage became Roman and then German over time. Austria is where the first known Celtic culture began. Today, Austrians are proud of their Celtic past, and Austria has many Celtic artifacts.
Groups like the Celtic Congress and the Celtic League define a 'Celtic nation' as one that has a recent history of speaking a traditional Celtic language.
A Look at Celtic History
Modern Idea of Celtic Peoples
Before the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity, people in Iron Age Britain and Ireland spoke languages that led to today's Gaelic languages (like Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx) and Brythonic languages (like Welsh, Breton, and Cornish). These people, along with others in Continental Europe who spoke similar languages (like the Gauls), are now called "Celts." This term became widely used in the 18th century.
The idea of "Celt" for these cultures grew slowly. A Scottish scholar named George Buchanan in the 1500s noticed similarities between the languages of the Gauls and ancient Britons. He thought if the Gauls were Celts, then the Britons were too. He saw patterns in place names and believed Britons and Irish Gaels once spoke one Celtic language that later changed. These ideas became popular much later, thanks to scholars like Paul-Yves Pezron and Edward Lhuyd in the early 1700s.
By the time the modern idea of Celts appeared, their power had lessened. Germanic peoples had taken over many areas. The Celtic Britons in Britain lost most of their land to Anglo-Saxon settlers. They became the Welsh people and Cornish people. Some fled to France and became the Breton people. The Gaels from Ireland expanded into Scotland, forming Alba. Later, the Normans invaded Welsh and Irish kingdoms and influenced the Scottish monarchy.
In later centuries, the Celtic peoples became less independent. The Tudors in England and the Stewarts in Scotland claimed Celtic ancestry. But they also pushed for a more unified "British" identity and promoted Anglicisation, which meant making things more English. The Gaels in Ireland lost their last kingdoms in 1607. Laws like the Statutes of Iona tried to make Highland Scots less Gaelic. These changes weakened the traditional leaders who supported Celtic culture.
Under British rule, Celtic-speaking people often became poor farmers and fishermen. The Industrial Revolution in the 18th century led to more people adopting English ways. Many moved away, forming a diaspora across the British Empire. Events like the Great Hunger in Ireland and the Highland Clearances in Scotland further reduced Gaelic speakers. In France, after the French Revolution, leaders pushed for a more centralized French identity, against regional cultures like Breton. However, leaders like Napoleon Bonaparte were drawn to the romantic idea of the Celt.
Pan-Celticism as a Political Idea
After a period of change in Britain, a new interest in "the Celt" appeared in the late 18th century. This was part of the Romanticism movement and is sometimes called "Celtomania." Key figures in this Celtic Revival were James Macpherson, who wrote the Poems of Ossian, and Iolo Morganwg, who started the Gorsedd. English and Scottish poets were also inspired by Celtic themes. Ancient stone structures like megaliths and dolmens became linked to the Druids, sparking fascination.
In the 1820s, early Pan-Celtic connections began, especially between the Welsh and Bretons. Thomas Price and Jean-François Le Gonidec worked together to translate the New Testament into Breton. Both men strongly supported their languages. This led to a Pan-Celtic Congress at the Cymreigyddion y Fenni's Eisteddfod in Abergavenny in 1838, where Bretons attended. Among them was Théodore Hersart de La Villemarqué, who brought the Gorsedd idea to Brittany. Breton nationalists were very keen on Pan-Celticism. Being part of France, they found strength in connecting with similar peoples across the Channel.
Around Europe, the study of Celtic languages and cultures, known as Celtic Studies, grew as an academic field. German scholars like Franz Bopp and Johann Kaspar Zeuss were leaders in this. As German power grew, they saw the rise of Celtic nationalisms. Heinrich Zimmer, a professor in Berlin, predicted in 1899 that Pan-Celticism would become as important as other movements like pan-Germanism.
Some scholars believed that "no language, no nation." This idea was adopted by nationalists in Celtic nations. Thomas Davis of the Young Ireland movement believed the Irish language was key to Irish nationalism. He said, "a people without a language of its own is only half a nation." Language revival groups like the Gaelic League emerged. Charles de Gaulle (uncle of the famous General) supported Breton self-rule and called for a Celtic Union in 1864. He argued that a conquered people remains free as long as they speak their own language. He corresponded with people in Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, urging them to cooperate and protect their languages. A Pan-Celtic magazine, Revue Celtique, was founded in 1873.
In 1867, de Gaulle organized the first Pan-Celtic gathering in Saint-Brieuc, Brittany. It was mainly attended by Welsh and Bretons.
Pan-Celtic Congress and the Celtic Association
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The first major Pan-Celtic Congress was held in August 1901 in Dublin. It was organized by Edmund Edward Fournier d'Albe and Bernard FitzPatrick, 2nd Baron Castletown, through their Celtic Association. This followed a strong Pan-Celtic feeling at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Liverpool in 1900. Fournier also attended Feis Ceoil, which brought together musicians from Celtic nations. The main publication of the Celtic Association was Celtia: A Pan-Celtic Monthly Magazine, edited by Fournier.
The Celtic Association organized three Pan-Celtic Congresses: Dublin (1901), Caernarfon (1904), and Edinburgh (1907). Each began with a special ceremony, including the laying of the Lia Cineil ("Race Stone"). This stone was meant to represent a counter to the British Empire's push for everyone to be Anglo-Saxon. The Pan-Celts imagined a strong "Celtic race" where each Celtic people had its own national identity.
The reaction from Irish nationalists was mixed. Some, like D. P. Moran, mocked the Pan-Celts, calling it a "Pan-Celtic Farce." They disliked the folk costumes and ceremonies. Others, like Douglas Hyde and Patrick Pearse from the Gaelic League, attended meetings. Lady Gregory imagined an Ireland-led "Pan-Celtic Empire."
David Lloyd George, who later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, gave a speech at the 1904 Celtic Congress.
John de Courcy Mac Donnell started a Celtic Union in Belgium in 1908. This group organized the fourth Pan-Celtic congress at the 1910 Brussels International Exposition. Exhibitions of hurling were held there. The Celtic Union held more events, including the fifth Pan-Celtic congress in 1913.
Pan-Celticism After the Easter Rising
Celtic nationalisms gained a huge boost from the Irish Easter Rising of 1916. In this event, Irish revolutionaries fought against the British Empire during World War I to create an Irish Republic. They wanted to bring back Gaelic culture and language to Ireland. After the rising, their ideas came together in Ireland around Sinn Féin. In other Celtic nations, groups with similar goals were formed and supported Ireland during the Irish War of Independence. These included the Breton magazine Breiz Atao, the Scots National League, and figures in Wales who later founded Plaid Cymru.
Some Celtic nationalists hoped that a partly independent Ireland could inspire similar movements in their own nations. However, this proved to be a disappointment. The Irish Free State focused on diplomacy with Britain to get back the counties in Northern Ireland, rather than supporting Celtic nationalist fighters within Britain. The Irish state, especially under Éamon de Valera, did make efforts to support Pan-Celticism culturally and linguistically. For example, in 1947, de Valera visited the Isle of Man and had recordings made of the last native Manx Gaelic speakers.
Post-War Efforts and the Celtic League
A group called "Aontacht na gCeilteach" (Celtic Unity) was formed in 1942 to promote the Pan-Celtic idea. It was believed to be linked to an Irish fascist party. This group aimed to unite Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Breton nationalists.
The renewed strength of Irish republicanism after World War II, especially during The Troubles, inspired other Celtic nationalists. It also inspired nationalists in other "small nations," like the Basques. There was also a new interest in all things Celtic in the 1960s and 1970s. Some groups in Galician nationalism and Asturian nationalism began to connect with Pan-Celticism. They attended festivals like the Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Although these regions once had Celtic people, no Celtic language has been spoken there since the 8th century. Today, they speak Romance languages. The Celtic League briefly admitted Galicia in 1986 but reversed the decision the next year, confirming that Celtic languages are key to defining a Celtic nation.
21st Century Pan-Celticism
Following the Brexit referendum, there have been new calls for Pan-Celtic unity. In November 2016, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, liked the idea of a "Celtic Corridor" connecting Ireland and Scotland.
In January 2019, Adam Price, the leader of the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru party, supported cooperation among the Celtic nations after Brexit. He suggested a Celtic Development Bank for joint projects in energy, transport, and communication in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. He also proposed a Celtic union, saying its structure already exists in the Good Friday Agreement. He spoke about Wales and Ireland working together to promote their native languages.
Some people have suggested a "Celtic confederation" or "Celtic Council" for Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Isle of Man could also join. Cornwall and Brittany might join if they gain more self-government.
Anti-Celticism
From the late 1980s, some archaeologists started a movement called "Celtoscepticism." They questioned the very idea of "Celts" and doubted the use of the term. These scholars were often against using ancient writings as sources for the Iron Age period. However, John T. Koch stated that the existence of a Celtic language family is a "scientific fact" that has survived this debate.
Other figures in this field included Malcolm Chapman and Simon James. There was a heated debate, with some believing that the anti-Celtic ideas were politically motivated. They thought it was a reaction to the creation of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.
Genetic studies by David Reich suggest that Celtic areas had major population changes. The last group, who spoke Celtic languages, arrived around 1000 BCE. This was after the building of famous monuments like Stonehenge and Newgrange. Reich confirmed that the Indo-European roots of Celtic languages came from a population shift, not just adopting a language.
How Pan-Celticism Shows Up
Pan-Celticism can be seen in different ways:
Languages
Language groups promote connections through language. Examples include the Gorsedd in Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany, and the Irish government-supported Columba Initiative between Ireland and Scotland. There's a difference between the Irish, Scots, and Manx, who speak Q-Celtic Goidelic languages, and the Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons, who speak P-Celtic Brythonic languages.
Music
Music is a big part of Celtic cultural links. Inter-Celtic festivals are becoming more popular. Some well-known ones are in Lorient, Killarney, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, and Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Cuisine
Pan-Celtic Cuisine
Pan-Celtic cuisine refers to the food traditions shared among the Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. This cooking style uses local ingredients, traditional methods, and cultural influences from each region.
Characteristics
- Focus on Local Ingredients: Pan-Celtic cuisine uses ingredients from the local land. Common foods include oats, seafood, dairy, root vegetables, and game meats.
- Traditional Cooking Methods: Cooking methods include open fire cooking, baking, boiling, and slow-cooking. Many dishes show the simple and strong nature of Celtic food heritage.
- Common Ingredients:
- Oats: Oat-based dishes like porridge and oatcakes are common.
- Seafood: Because these nations are near the sea, seafood is very important. Dishes feature fish, shellfish, and seaweed.
- Dairy: Milk and dairy products, especially cheeses, are key to Celtic recipes.
- Root Vegetables: Potatoes, turnips, and carrots are often used.
Regional Variations
- Irish Cuisine: Known for hearty dishes like Irish stew, colcannon, and soda bread.
- Scottish Cuisine: Features dishes like haggis, neeps and tatties, and Scotch broth.
- Welsh Cuisine: Includes specialties such as Welsh rarebit, cawl, and bara brith.
- Breton Cuisine: Influenced by the coast, it focuses on seafood, crepes, and galettes.
Modern chefs are now mixing traditional Celtic recipes with new techniques and global influences. This creates exciting new dishes that celebrate Celtic heritage.
Promotion and Awareness
Efforts to promote Pan-Celtic cuisine include food events, festivals, and teamwork among chefs from different Celtic regions. Online platforms also share recipes and celebrate Celtic food diversity.
Sports
Wrestling
Celtic wrestling styles are very similar, suggesting they came from a common origin. In the Middle Ages, Irish and Cornish wrestlers often competed. The Irish style, Collar-and-elbow wrestling, uses a "jacket" like Cornish wrestling.
Cornwall and Brittany have similar wrestling styles (Cornish wrestling and Gouren). They have had matches for centuries. Formal Inter-Celtic championships between Cornwall and Brittany started in 1928. The Celtic wrestling championship began in 1985, including Gouren and Scottish Backhold.
Hurling and Shinty
Ireland and Scotland play each other in hurling/shinty international matches.
Handball
Irish handball and Welsh handball (Welsh: Pêl-Law) come from an ancient Celtic origin. Over time, they became two separate sports. Informal matches likely happened between Irish immigrant workers and Welsh players in the 1800s. Formal inter-Celtic matches began after The Welsh Handball Association formed in 1987. The 1990s were a high point for these rivalries.
Rugby
Discussions about a Pan-Celtic rugby tournament happened for years. In 1999–2000, Scottish teams joined the Welsh Premier Division, creating the Welsh–Scottish League. In 2001, Irish provinces joined, and it became the Celtic League.
Today, this tournament is called the United Rugby Championship. It has expanded to include teams from Italy and South Africa. But Celtic rivalries still continue within the league. In Women's rugby union, the IRFU, WRU, and SRU started the Celtic Challenge competition in 2023.
Political
Political groups like the Celtic League, Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party have worked together in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Regional Council of Brittany has cultural links with the Welsh Senedd. Political Pan-Celticism can range from a full union of independent Celtic states to occasional political visits. During the Troubles, the Provisional IRA avoided attacks in Scotland and Wales, seeing England as the main colonial force.
In 2023, a 'Celtic Forum' took place in Brittany. Leaders from Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, Ireland, and Brittany attended. Political representatives from Asturias and Galicia were also there. The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, called it a great chance for Celtic nations to build on their links and find ways to work together, like in marine energy.
Town Twinning
Town twinning is common between Wales and Brittany, and Ireland and Brittany. Hundreds of communities are linked, with exchanges of local politicians, choirs, dancers, and school groups.
Historical Connections
The kingdom of Dál Riata was a Gaelic kingdom on the western coast of Scotland and northern Ireland in the 6th and 7th centuries.
As late as the 13th century, Scottish leaders were proud of their Gaelic-Irish origins and saw Ireland as the homeland of the Scots. The 14th-century Scottish King Robert the Bruce said Ireland and Scotland shared a common identity. However, over time, Irish and Scottish interests grew apart. The conversion of Scots to Protestantism was one reason. Scotland's stronger political position with England was another. Their different economic situations also played a part; by the 1840s, Scotland was rich, and Ireland was very poor.
There was a lot of movement between Ireland and Scotland over the centuries. Many Scots Protestants settled in Ulster in the 17th century. Later, many Irish people moved to Scottish cities in the 19th century to escape the "Irish famine." Recently, the study of Irish-Scottish connections has grown a lot.
Organizations
- The International Celtic Congress is a non-political cultural group that promotes Celtic languages in the six nations: Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Isle of Man, and Cornwall.
- The Celtic League is a Pan-Celtic political organization.
Celtic Regions and Countries
Many Europeans have some Celtic ancestry. However, the main test for being a 'Celtic nation' is having a living Celtic language. Based on this, the Celtic League rejected Galicia. The following regions have a surviving Celtic language and are considered the Celtic nations by the Pan Celtic Congress and the Celtic League:
Other regions with Celtic heritage include:
- Austria – Home of the Hallstatt culture, possibly where Celts originated.
- Czech Republic – Home of the Boii (Bohemia).
- England
- France – Known as Gaul in ancient times.
- Northern Italy, known as Cisalpine Gaul, was home to Celtic people.
- Portugal – Home to the Lusitani and other Celtic tribes.
- Spain – A large part of the Iberian peninsula was home to Celtic tribes.
- Slovenia – Historical part of the Celtic Kingdom of Noricum.
Celts Outside Europe
Areas with Celtic Language Speakers
There are notable Irish and Scottish Gaelic speaking communities in Atlantic Canada.
The Patagonia region of Argentina has a significant Welsh-speaking population. The Welsh settlement there, known as Y Wladfa, started in 1865.
The Celtic Diaspora
Many people of Celtic descent live in the Americas, New Zealand, and Australia. There are many organizations, cultural festivals, and language classes for them. In the United States, Celtic Family Magazine shares news, art, and history about Celtic people.
Irish Gaelic games like Gaelic football and hurling are played worldwide, organized by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The Scottish game shinty has also grown in the United States.
Timeline of Pan-Celticism
- 1820: The Royal Celtic Society founded in Scotland.
- 1838: First Celtic Congress, called Pan-Celtic Congress, in Abergavenny.
- 1867: Second Celtic Congress in Saint-Brieuc.
- 1888: Pan-Celtic Society formed in Dublin.
- 1919–1922: Irish War of Independence, leading to Ireland's independence.
- 1947: Celtic Union formed.
- 1950: Cornwall hosts its first Celtic congress.
- 1961: Modern Celtic League founded.
- 1971: Killarney Pan Celtic Festival begins.
- 1997: Columba Initiative begins.
- 1999: Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly open.
- 2000: The Cornish Constitutional Convention is formed and collects over 50,000 signatures for a Cornish Assembly.
Images for kids
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George Buchanan was one of the first modern historians to note the connection between Celtic peoples.
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Arthur, Prince of Wales. The Tudors played up their Celtic background, while accelerating Anglicisation.
See also
- List of movements in Wales
- Agnes O'Farrelly
- Alan Heusaff
- Armes Prydein
- Charles de Gaulle
- John Stuart Stuart-Glennie
- Mona Douglas
- Richard Jenkin
- Ruaraidh Erskine
- Sophia Morrison
- Théodore Hersart de la Villemarqué
