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Celtic Heritage - Culture - Traditions (Celtica)

This page lists links to sites with information on Celtic culture and traditions - not necessarily Scottish - that have come to the atttention of The Capital Scot.  As with all of this site, this page represents a niche - not necessarily mainstream - of information about Celtic heritage.

General Information:  New World Celts Award to The Capital Scot    Celtic Societies    Celtic History, Art, & Culture    Celtic Internet Resources and Media    
The Celtic Nations:   Asturias     Breton     Cornwall     Galicia     Ireland     Isle of Mann     Scotland     Wales

New items this week under topics marked

New World Celts Award to The Capital Scot

The New World Celts - The New World Celts' missions are: a) "To promote awareness of the outstanding contributions and history of the Celtic Peoples in the formation and continuance of the New World." b) "To provide a forum for the exchange and promotion of Celtic cultural information between the Celtic Associations of the New World; To act as liaison for coordination of and assistance to these Organizations." c) "To support Celtic organizations, regardless of their origins." d) "To perpetuate Celtic Culture and history in the New World." e) "To provide a fraternal atmosphere for members." There is a section on New World histories that includes the Celtic origins of American, USA, and CSA leaders.  A history of Celtic exploration of the new World is provided starting with Celts who traveled with Carthaginians who traded with the New World in 500 BC.

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Celtic Societies

The Celtic League is an inter-celtic organisation that campaigns for the social, political and cultural rights of the Celtic nations.  It's Web site contains information about all Celtic countries.

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Celtic History, Art, & Culture

The Old Celtic Dictionary the only comprehensive historical celtic dictionary available, comprises Primitive Celtic, Ancient Celtic and Old Celtic word entries prior to 400 A.D. This lexicon contains over 9,000 Primitive and Ancient Celtic word entries.

Learn about Ogham.  The early Celts originated a system of writing or signed communication. It's called Ogham.  The symbols were called after various trees and plants.  The symbols were cut into the vertical edge of a stone (from the bottom up) or into a piece of wood.  [Although interesting, this site has many broken links.]

Ragnarok Press has a Book of Kells site online.  It features images from this classic book.  The Book of Kells is the most recognized and most remarkable artifact of medieval Celtic art. It features page after page of lavish, colorful lettering, illumination, decoration and illustration.

Baby Names Of Ireland:  "Unusual, even exotic sounding Irish baby names are becoming hugely popular but how do you pronounce these unfamiliar syllables, what do these Gaelic-rooted names mean and what are their English language equivalents?"

Learn about Gaelic Song and Singing.  This article has been praised by various people involved with traditional Gaelic singing, including lecturers and former lecturers at the School of Scottish Studies.  Much of what is written here deals with Gaelic song, but in many ways traditional Gaelic singing in Scotland has strong links with traditional Irish singing and traditional Scots singing too so I hope this article is also of interest to traditional singers beyond Scots Gaelic.

The Lay of the Great Fool from the Internet Sacred Text Achive displays an ancient stone labeled DEER AND HOUND--From a stone at Kirriemuir.--Sculptured Stones of Scotland, Pl. xlvi. See Stanza 15. The Internet Sacred Text Achive:  Some of these books and texts are translations of Celtic legends and sagas; others are retellings of the material, folklore, or literary works based on Celtic themes.  During the 19th and early 20th Century there was a resurgence of interest in the folklore of Ireland, Wales and Scotland.  This was reflected in a huge amount of literature based on the rich Celtic mythopoetic heritage, most of it very faithful to the original material, some in a more modern voice

Brehon Law Project - "Brehon law in Scotland is, along with Irish law, the oldest, most original, and most extensive of mediaeval European legal systems.  It is a unique legal inheritance, an independent indigenous system of advanced jurisprudence that was fully evolved by the eighth century.  It is also far less well known than it deserves."

Celtic Indians - When celebrating the fabulous history of the Celtic peoples in the New World, one must include the progeny of their liaisons with the Native Americans, for herein lay many of the greatest stories on this continent.  The joining of these two tribal cultures results in some of the greatest warrior-heroes to walk the planet, just when their people needed them the most.  The traditional powers of the Old World (Britain, Spain and France) were locked in mortal combat over the vast resources of the New World.  These resources included the 'Coilltich', Gaelic for the 'forest-folk', the term the highlanders had for the Red Man. ... It is likely that the Gaels realized that Native Americans were the disposed and disenfranchised of America in the same sense that they had become the subject race of Scotland, driven out of their home by Clearances that continued into the early twentieth century

Chicken Soup for the Celtic Soul has interesting articles and stories.  They welcome contributions for publication that are in any way related to things past, present and future connected to the Celts or Celtic culture, e.g. Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Breton, Manx and their descendants throughout the world.

New Celtic graphic design resources are available at:

• new Celtic material
• original Celtic page
• Arthurian card game page

The roots rock band Runrig

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Celtic Internet Resources and Media

Visit "celt.net" - "A little portion of the World Wide Web was established to provide an online home for the Celtic community in cyberspace.  Here you will find resources, links, organizations, and other resources dealing with things Celtic."

Visit a Web-based archive of the following newsgroups:

• soc.culture.cornish
• soc.culture.breton
• uk.local.southwest
• soc.culture.welsh

Craig Cockburn has provided various Scottish and Celtic newsgroups the following links to Celtic and Scottish music on the Internet:

• Index of Celtic Music WebRadio Sites
• Highlander Internet Radio
• Scottish Internet Radio

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Asturias

Asturias was the region where the Visigothic nobles and the few Ibero-Romans who supported them took refuge when the Moorish armies swept unstoppably up the Iberian Peninsula from Gibraltar.  Under the leadership of Pelayo, these Christians halted the Arab expansion at the Battle of Cobadonga in 722, after which Pelayo was proclaimed king (this place in the history of Spain is reflected by the heir to the Spanish throne being given the title Prince of Asturias, like the British Prince of Wales).  Around about 924, the Kingdom of Asturias mutated into the Kingdom of León, and Asturias itself relapsed into the rural backwardness which has usually characterised it.  In spite of being one of the first areas in Spain to undergo an industrial revolution (powered by abundant locally mined coal), it has long been subject to a pattern of forced emigration (as in neighbouring Galicia), and traces of Asturian culture are often found in the Americas.

Article Contributed by a Reader, July 2007

Asturias was the last part of Spain taken by the Romans - very late, when most of Spain had already been colonized for almost 400 years.  The Celtic tribes of Asturias fought the Romans for almost ten years, in the Cantabrian Wars.  Rome needed more time and men to take Asturias than to take all Gaul.  The reason for this conquest was that Emperor Augustus wanted to fix the limits of the Empire and needed fresh men in his legions.  (The men of my city, Gijón, called themselves Cymru, like modern Wales.) Most of those Asturians the Romans enlisted were sent to Britain and Scotland, to build the Hadrian Wall, possibly because they spoke a language quite similar to that of the British Celts.   Chesters Fort in the Hadrian`s Wall was kept for almost 400 years by those Asturian Cylurms compulsorily enlisted in the Roman legions.   For over 400 years at the Wall Asturians and Scots must have maintained a close contact.  The first were paid by Rome, but probably they felt closer to the Picts and Caledonians than to the Roman masters.

The Towers Cape was the original settlement of the Cylurms, the original inhabitants of Asturias, and remained a Celtic stronghold for almost 800 years.  Cylurm was one of the key places in ancient times for the trade of bronze around the Atlantic Celtic arch.  There are many villages in Asturias called Belenos, like the Irish god, or Taran, or Lug.  Although deeply Romanized, about 1,000 Celtic words remain in the Asturian language spoken today, the great trace of Celtic presence masy still be felt.

A marvellous Celtic site in the Asturian region, the Campa Torres or The Torres Bay, now destroyed for development, was inhabited for almost two thousand years by the Celtic people of the Cylurni.  The Torres Bay was an impressive promontory jutting into the Atlantic, near to the city of Gijón, and, sadly, near to the port of Gijón.     It was from here that the horse soldiers of the Ala Asturica were sent by Rome to build and defend the Hadrian Wall.  The remains of these Celtic people of northern Spain can still be found in the Fort of Chesters, in Northumberland, the most important fortress guarding the Hadrian Wall.  On the archaelogical site, remains of products coming from Ireland or Britanny 2.000 years ago had been found.  Torres was important for the Celtic world given the abundance of zinc necessary for producing bronze.  The Cylurns were famous for his ability with the bronze and copper.  (In their language this meant 'The Coppersmiths').  See the Google translation into English.

Article contributed by , an activist for the preservation of Celtic cultural sites in Asturias.

Australia's Asturian Piper:  On the September 15, 2007 Australia's Asturian piper Richard Lopez (one of two in Australia, the other senior in Melbourne.) played underground in the Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, in honoring Asturias and all Celtic traditions.  He lead the people from the village to the caves, with the most extraordinary sound to hear, in the valley and underground in the "Subterranean Galleries".  This was a first in the history in Jenolan Caves.  The Asturian piper stood alone, dignified.  It was extraordinary.  People said "What!  Spanish bagpipes!  There is no such thing!"  Thank you (i.e., Capital Scot) for recognizing Asturias, your extended family in the world. [Used by permission of ]

Capital Scot Notes: Cantabrian Wars and Caesar Augustus

• 27 BC Caesar Augustus restores the republic, recieves the title Augustus, and leaves Rome for Gaul and Spain
   
• 26 BC The Cantabrian War starts
   
• The Astures joined the Cantabri for the common defense. In the spring of 25 BC there were three Roman legions established near the Astura river (modern Esla river)
   
• 25 BC The Cantabrian War ends. Galatia is annexed.
   
• Different from similar conflicts, the Roman Empire chose not to take prisoners, which supposes the elimination of Cantabri of military age. Moreover, there was a tradition among the Cantabri soldiers to commit suicide rather than be taken into slavery.

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Asturias.

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Breton

Breizh.net is a non-profit association whose objective is the promotion of Brittany and the Breton language on the web.  One of the many neat features of this site is the ability to google in the Breton language.

"La Musique Celtique" (i.e., The Celtic Music) is currently only in French.  Read about celtic music and instruments.

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Breton.

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Cornwall

The Cornish-American Heritage Society has grown to be the largest Cornish organization in North America.  As we enters the 21st century, the society is enthusiastic to continue to tell the story of Cornish immigration to North America and those Cornish immigrants who settled our great continent.

The Cornish Stannary Parliament which has links to information about contemporary topics.

Village of Mullion in Cornwall.

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Cornwall.

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Galicia

The Gaels in Galicia

"The oldest record of the wearing the kilt in Galiza was from the Romans 'Estrabon' and 'Plinio'.  As they described the old Galician Kilts they were similar to those from Eire.  The last record was in a Picture of 1777 (221 years ago) where we can see two persons wearing the kilt.  One was a piper and the other one a dancer that came from Galician mountains to a national piper party, with their typical clothes.  Nowadays the 'Banda de Gaitas da diputaci-n de Ourense' is wearing the Galician kilt in an intent to recuperate the old clothes.  The Celts actually were amongst the first to wear trousers in Europe.  The word 'trousers' is from the Gaelic and 'breeches' from Ancient Celtic.  Apparently this is because they were from Central Asia, and rode horses a lot.  Trousers are much better than kilts or togas when you're riding a horse."

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Galicia.

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Ireland

Assertion The Irish national anthem is Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldiers Song) composed by Peadar Kearney approx 1907, this is also sung at Internationals where Ireland is playing.  As Gaelic is not very easy to prononce, I believe that Ulstermen would also sing it if they could.  I believe that the players sing the national anthem of the country they are playing for rather than where they were born.  Reply Actually, the song was originally written in English, so there's no reason why they shouldn't sing it in English.  They might disagree with the sentiments expressed however.

The Chesapeake Sept of the Royal Clan O'brien:  An Irish Clan is a family association made up of people with a common surname and ancestry, and should not be confused with Scottish Clans.  Most are members of Clans of Ireland, which was chartered by Irish Tourist Board and the Department of the Taoiseach to promote and assist Irish Clans worldwide.  The site links to information about established Irish Clans or family associations which have their own web sites.

The Clan Kennedy Association is the American Representitive of the Ua Cinneide Clans of Ireland.  If your father was a member of any of the Kennedy clans you are already qualified to join!  The association primarily researches Irish Kennedys.  However, it is not limited to the Irish.  We research our Ulster Scots (Scots-Irish) and Scottish heritage as well.  As of now there is no fee for joining, that may come later of course.

Brehon Law Project - "Brehon law in Scotland is, along with Irish law, the oldest, most original, and most extensive of mediaeval European legal systems.  It is a unique legal inheritance, an independent indigenous system of advanced jurisprudence that was fully evolved by the eighth century.  It is also far less well known than it deserves."

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Ireland.

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Isle of Mann

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of the Isle of Mann.

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Scotland

Seed of the Gael Siol nan Gaidheal, The Scottish Cultural and Fraternal Organisation.  Founded in 1978 Siol nan Gaidheal is the premier Scottish Cultural and Fraternal Organisation.  Seed of the Gael has just recently launched a Siol nan Gaidheal website in the USA and it is hoped a further one will be launched in Canada within the next few months.  Each website contains a visitors forum for debate on all things Scottish and has proven to be a fine medium for the acquisition of new friends in both Scotland and America.  The American website <http://www.siol-nan-gaidheal.com> is managed from NY State and the Scottish <http://www.siol-nan-gaidheal-usa.com> one from West Lothian, Nr. Edinburgh in Scotland.  [Capital Scot advisory: Loaded with eye catching, appealing graphics]

There are no more articles or links under this category because this site, The Capital Scot contains a multitude of arlicles and links pertinent to Scottish heritage.

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Wales

The Welsh Society of Fredericksburg brings together persons who are interested in preserving and perpetuating the heritage and culture of Wales.  We impart this knowledge to the general public as an ongoing educational endeavor and foster, encourage and organize other activities relating to Wales.

Hear recordings of music, stories and people of Wales - a mini real audio radio station - non commercial.

"Land of My Fathers" - Wales

Learn Welsh Gaelic by subscribing to WEL-L.  Send an E-Mail to listproc@hawaii.edu with the following as the first line in the body of your E-Mail: subscribe WEL-L [your full-name].

Readers of The Capital Scot are invited to and links for the Celtic nation of Wales.

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