That's the crazy thing you put me through...

Being a Celt!

More pros than cons if you are one like me!  We are quite mysterious, aren't we?

Can't stay away from what you are, where you are from and where you were raised into... Cause let's be honest between the music, the tales, and the festivals, the food and old languages you are supposed to know, I have lots to tell you about being a Celt!

Depending on which part you are from and being from different countries, everyone is highly similar, look at the Irish and the Scottish with the kilt. No judgments here, I was born around that so I can't say anything bad about it or be judgmental!

I'm sure you have heard about Celtics, the way they are, what they believe in, what they listen to and drink... Wear and talk... I mean Gaelic is quite popular and guess what, there are multiple old languages like this one!

I'm sure you also heard about druids? Oh these badasses people who might have done sacrifices, they did some pretty neat stuff too, such as advising chiefs with new laws, got to judge people for their crimes... They were considered the wisest people out there, so twenty years in training to get to their position was needed! If you don't know anything about druids, you should go and learn a bit more cause it's actually pretty interesting!

You know the roads? The ones that are EVERYWHERE, well we always thought Romans made this idea come true... Think again cause the Celts did it first and they were amazing at developing the great idea.
And gender didn't matter! Women could become warriors, chiefs, druids and thinking how Celts are, I'm not surprised, I don't understand why not everyone took this great situation, our world would be so much more equal by now! But sadly not because everyone else thought Celts were just like the Vikings, uneducated and barbarians. Not true, but that's how it turned out! Can't change what people thought and still may think about these people.

Now, despite what they may have done or not in the past, it is in the past. Today, being a celt means you are from either Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Cornwall and Isle of man. Six nations to show that the 'Celtic nations' are still here even after much history to separate even destroy it all.
And somehow this makes me proud to be Celtic!
We are a tough crowd, may seem cold, lack of trust in others, but loyal friends who can drink for days and party all night long without worries.

When I talk about partying all night, I'm talking about the festivals!
Festivals...
Ireland has Fleadh Cheoil (and Gaelic Céilidh)
Scotland has Mod
Brittany has Fest Noz
Cornwall has Troy
and Wales has Eisteddfod.

Festivals show everyone who goes the music, the traditional clothes, the language, the food, drinks, and dances. The Celtic Media Festival is one of the biggest festivals which is an annual three-day event that promotes everything and it's been running since 1980. Quite a festival if you ask me. It's like the birthdays of the most important Celtic Saints... We either celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland, Saint David's Day in Wales, Saint Andrew's Day in Scotland, Saint Piran's Day in Cornwall, Saint Maughold's Day in Isle of Man and Fete de la St-Yves and Grand Pardon of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in Brittany. Le pardon, being one of the popular celebrations in where I grew up, I had to see my mother dress like the old times, making me wants to participate and trust me... It's not easy to wear what they had to, we have it rather easy now.
A funny side note is even though it's all about celebrating, drink, dance around, it's also about religion. Born and raised Celtic isn't always easy...

You may drink a lot, but church is part of it all as well. The legends, the mythology, literature, the fantasy behind leprechauns or korrigans... Fairies... Magical forests... I mean you name it, we are full of mystery. Full of legends, stories to keep you up at night because you want to learn more about it all. I sure stayed long nights watching movies, reading books on the subject, and despite never seeing a magical creature, it's part of the Celtic ways... And just because you are Celtic doesn't mean you have a pot of gold waiting for you in your garden!


Despite the fact that Celtics were around years ago, it is still alive, and we are proof! 

"May you always find three welcomes...  In a garden in the summer, at a fireside during winter and, whatever the day or season, in the kind eyes of a friend." 

~Bella