Celtic nations

The term of the Celtic nations describes populations in modern Europe who identify with the Celtic tradition, especially in areas with speakers of Celtic languages. Since the mid-20th century, people from different countries and cultures have used the modern Celtic culture to express their national identity. Over time, the population was widely known as Celtic. In English, these regions are due to their geographic location in the north- west of Europe also " Celt belt" ( Celtic belt ) or " Celtic fringe" ( Celtic border zone) called. Since these terms are sometimes considered derogatory, the indigenous inhabitants speak partly also of the Celtic nations.

Before the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes expanded in Europe, the British Isles and much of continental Europe were populated predominantly Celtic. When the migration largely came to a halt, only the people of the north-western regions had been able to preserve their Celtic culture and language from the influence of immigrants. For example, displaced the Romans and later the Anglo-Saxons in Britain Britannic Britannic languages ​​and culture.

The Six Nations

From north to south:

These six nations are recognized ( the only ) of the Celtic League, the Celtic Congress and most other pan- Celtic groups and organizations as Celtic. In the six nations there each have their own Celtic language, which is the key criterion for the stated organizations.

In four of the six nations (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales), there are areas in which prevails a Celtic language ( in Ireland this hot Gaeltachtai for example ). In most cases, these areas in the western areas of the country, in the mountains or on islands.

Sometimes, for example, the festival Interceltic, Galicia, Asturias and Cantabria ( nine so ) Celtic nations are also counted among the. There are also Welsh and Scottish Gaelic -speaking immigrant minorities in the province of Chubut in the Argentine Patagonia and on the Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.

Other areas

Generally one can say that most countries in Western and Central Europe were influenced by the Celts, which still bear witness to local waters and names of Celtic origin. In some countries, there are also movements that view themselves as Celtic and demand recognition as a Celtic nation. In contrast to the six nations but has none of these countries on a living Celtic language.

Iberian Peninsula

See also Celtiberian and Gallaecia

There is in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, an area that was influenced by the Celtic culture. This area corresponds approximately to the regions of Galicia, Asturias, northern Portugal, Cantabria and León. In none of these regions there is a Celtic language, although some place names have a Celtic origin; the Celts is justified rather with the Celtic consciousness itself, because there was a long tradition of Keltentums because of the settled in this region Celtic tribes. Therefore, there is between the inhabitants of this region and those of other nations similarities in both cultural (music, dances, folklore ) as well as genetic aspects.

England

Celtic traditions and customs also exist in England yet, especially in the areas in the southwest and north ( see Devon and Cumbria ). Since the extinction of the altdevonischen, the Cumbrian and Cornish languages ​​England missing a Celtic language. In ancient times, several local Celtic tribes inhabited the island of Great Britain, but none of which formed the English nation. In the Celtic languages ​​, the country will therefore usually Saxony country called ( Sasana, Pow Saws, Bro - Saoz etc. ), and in Welsh as Lloegr ( in the Welsh translation from English, however, say the country again Saesneg, the English Saeson, in the singular Sae ). The name comes from the fact that the Celtic peoples of England were governed by the invading Saxons and their language and culture took over; nevertheless survived the spoken Kumbrisch until the 12th century. The north of England forms the historical landscape Hen Ogledd ( Welsh for the old north, the residents were from other Celts Men of the North ). Hen Ogledd thus forms together with Wales and Cornwall, the three Britannic areas of the UK. In contrast to the above example, there is hardly a political motivation, it was rather to be known that local linguistic and cultural characteristics are due to Celtic origins. So the name of Cumbria has the same roots as Cymru, the name of Wales in Welsh; both can be translated as Land of the companions.

Earlier Gallic regions

Many French people identify with the Gauls. The Italian Aosta Valley, where French and arpitanisch spoken, has a Celtic heritage, the aspiring autonomy Northern League party often emphasizes and glorifies the Celtic roots of the Po Valley. The Walloons are sometimes referred to as Celts, to distinguish them from the " Teutonic " Flemish and " Latin" French; the word Walloons comes from a Germanic word meaning " alien ", and is related to Welsh and Vlach.

Central Europe

In addition, Celtic tribes inhabited the area now also in southern Germany and Austria. Often the early Celtic peoples with the Hallstatt period are associated. Some tribes in central Europe were, for example, the Boii, Scordisci and Vindelici, with this addition to Germany and Austria and the present-day Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia and Poland are meant. So Bohemia takes its name from the Boii. The Scordisci founded Singidunum, now known as Belgrade, further there are over 5000 Celtic words in Serbian. The La Tène culture was widespread in Central Europe, the name comes from the archaeological course La Tène in Switzerland.

Outside Europe

Even in regions outside Europe, there are people who often come from the ' Celtic nations ' and feel connected to the Celts. In the regional culture Celtic traditions and languages ​​form an important role in part.

So in Canada, Irish is spoken, for example, in Tamworth ( Ontario) and to the southeast of Newfoundland, on the Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia is Canadian Gaelic ( self-designation: Gàidhlig Canadanach ), a dialect of Scottish Gaelic spoken, and are in Estrie in Quebec it is still Celtic place names originating from the Scottish immigrants. In the valley of the Río Chubut in Patagonia in Welsh Argentines living (called " Y Wladfa "). In the southern states and some other regions of the U.S., one can also observe effects on the culture by keltischstämmige immigrants. Furthermore, there is Scots-Gaelic place-names and Celtic traditions in the regions of Otago and Southland in the south of New Zealand. Overall, one can say that it is in the former colonies of the British Empire (eg USA, Australia, South Africa) are many people who feel connected with the Celtic culture.