Wednesday 13 August 2008

Brothers in Arms



The Pan-Celtic Movement

The Pan-Celtic movement is an attempt to recognise the special nature of the Celtic heritage. Involving the Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Manx, Cornish, Breton, Asturian and Galician peoples, it aims to maintain, promote and celebrate the rich Celtic heritage. Movements over the years have supported the attempts of Celtic people to gain wider recognition for their unique identity or worked to create a Celtic network for the development of cultural links.

Language is central to the Pan-Celtic movement. All Celts were once unified by a common Celtic language, Old Celtic, from which all modern Celtic languages descend and the mission to maintain Celtic culture has often been linked to the preservation of individual Celtic languages.

The Spread of Celticism

Since the industrial revolution, Celtic people have spread all over the world to escape conflict, poverty and oppression, or to search for work, adventure and new opportunities in other lands. The Welsh set out to create a new Welsh community in Patagonia; the Scots went to Nova Scotia; the Irish to America. Wherever they went they took their cultures and languages with them and groups grew in their new homeland to represent their interests.

Pan-Celtic movements not only support the interests of the Celtic homelands - Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany, Asturias and Galicia - but also those of its people in other lands. A range of Pan-Celtic festivals and cultural events such as film festivals, music festivals, art exhibitions and book fairs reflect and maintain the profile of Celtic culture worldwide. The academic study of all things Celtic has boomed, with Celtic studies departments being set up in many universities across Europe and America.

Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk

More........ http://www.celticcountries.com/
http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=5601420887

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Welsh set out to create a new Welsh community in Patagonia; the Scots went to Nova Scotia; the Irish to America. Wherever they went they took their cultures and languages with them and groups grew in their new homeland to represent their interests.



So exactly what is wrong with English people doing exactly the same in Wales?

Unknown said...

Nothing at all! The English are welcome in Wales provided they respect its nationhood and its culture and language.

Anonymous said...

Just like the Welsh in Patagonia failing to speak Spanish and adhering to Patagonian custom and culture. Did they resect nationhood and culture? No, of course no. They retained their own.

The Scots and Irish? Did they adopt local language and culture? No, of course not. Did they respect nationhood and culture? No, of course not. They retained their own.

So what's so different about the Emglish in Wales?

Unknown said...

Nobody is forcing English people or any other to learn Welsh or adopt the national culture.
Just like the Patagonians who speak both Welsh and Spanish and live in Argentina, and the Scots who are Canadian citizens.
But immigrants should not try to dominate.
Russians in Latvia have their own language and culture, yet live among Latvians. However theyare not given rightsof citizenship. Wales would.

Anonymous said...

English? Trying to dominate? Where on earth do you get that from?