Halifax Celtic Festival

Thank you to the Embassy & Consulates of Ireland USA for their support of this virtual event. Featuring: Eileen Ivers Joanie Madden Music... Cherish the Ladies Morgan Bullock Ashley Davis Cassie and Maggie The Friel Sisters Karan Casey Emma Langford See more

BRIGIT’S FEAST DAY is 1 February, which was originally a pre-Christian festival called Imbolc, marking the beginning of spring for speakers of and those who have a heritage and connection to the Celtic languages. BRIGID’S/BRIGIT’S CROSS is a small cross usually woven from rushes. Irish language: Cros Bríde, Crosóg Bríde or Bogha Bríde... Gaelic language: Crois Brìghde Welsh language: Croes Ffraid

We just made a change to the schedule on our website See the BiG Island Trio @ 10:15 AST

Gaeil in the Irish language, Gàidheil in the Scottish Gaelic and Gaelic in Nova Scotia languages and Gaeil in the Manx Gaelic language are the terms for the ethnocultural group, Gaels. An Ghaeilge (Irish language) is a member of the Goidelic (Gaelic) branch of the Celtic family of languages and is a sister language to A' Ghàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic and Gaelic in Nova Scotia) and Gaelg (Manx Gaelic). See history of the Irish Language - Údarás na Gaeltachta... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U0v9LHgyRY #Gaels See more

"The Harvard Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures affirms the evidence-based consensus that 'Celtic' is a linguistic category describing a group of languages both ancient and modern. By extension, the term may refer to oral traditions and literatures in those languages, and to other cultural formations closely associated with those languages. There is no essential genetic 'Celtic' identity, nor is any ethnicity or group of enthnicities entitled to a privileged posit...ion within the field. Certain symbols associated with medieval Ireland and loosely identified as 'Celtic' have been appropriated by groups asserting the supremacy of persons with white skin. We repudiate this appropriation in the strongest possible terms. We are committed in our teaching and research to dispelling the notion that responsible Celtic studies can in any way privilege or essentialize whiteness. We offer a warm welcome to anyone, regardless of skin color, country of origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other aspect of identity, who is interested in the Celtic languages and their literatures."

Breton language like the Welsh and Cornish languages, is what is referred to as a 'P' Celtic language and is a member of the Celtic family of languages https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_languages. While there may be few Nova Scotians who claim Breton heritage, early settlers in Nova Scotia such as the Briands may have their origins in Brittany, France and have been Breton speakers, later integrating into Acadian society. "The new young crowds are embracing the traditional Breton culture which is marking a renaissance. The Breton language is viewed as a way to reconnect with a lost identity. A form of resistance to globalization". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0vMxu1bUq8 CULTURE BRETONNE & CELTIQUE Tourisme Bretagne

Welsh language is one of the Celtic languages that was brought to Nova Scotia by Welsh emigrants. In this 2008 interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zATMcJA0AWA the late Meredydd Evans, Professor of Philosophy, writer, and performer discusses how language is an inseparable part of cultural identity. Welsh & Cornish in Nova Scotia// Kernewek & Cymraeg yn Alba Nuadh Mi'kma'ki Welsh Cultural Society of Nova Scotia

This chart demonstrates language shifts that occurred in Ireland, Scotland, The Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and England from 400 AD on. Five of the remaining Celtic languages, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx Gaelic, Welsh and Cornish experienced dramatic language shift over this period. https://starkeycomics.com//a-brief-history-of-british-an/

Some Clips From Our Friday Night Kitchen Party with BiG Island Trio & The Superlative Irish Dancers If you have any memorable footage please send it along to us.

Some Pics From The Festival That Was - We Are Excited For 2021 #hfxcelticfest