Celtic festivals celebrate Celtic culture, which in modern times may be via dance, Celtic music, food, Celtic art, or other mediums. Ancient Celtic festivals included religious and seasonal events such as bonfires, harvest festivals, storytelling and music festivals, and dance festivals. This list includes Celtic festivals held throughout the world.
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History
There are several specific and often ancient types of Celtic festivals. A fèis (plural fèiseannan) is a traditional Gaelic arts and culture festival, currently used referring to Irish dance competitions. In Ancient Ireland communities placed great importance on local festivals, where Gaels could come together in song, dance, music, theatre and sport. Today the Fèis has experienced something of a rebirth, both for ethnic Gaels and for enthusiasts of the Gaelic culture in Ireland and Scotland, and worldwide.[1] Other ancient festivals include the eisteddfod, which is a Welsh festival of literature, music and performance dating back to at least the 12th century. The present-day format owes much to an eighteenth-century revival arising out of a number of informal eisteddfodau.[2] Comparable to the eisteddfod but without the ancient roots, the Mòd is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. There are both local mods and an annual national Mòd, the Royal National Mòd, which take the form of formal competitions, with choral events and traditional music including fiddle, bagpipe and folk groups. There are spoken word events, original dramas, and competitions in written literature.
The concept of modern Celtic identity evolved during the course of the 19th-century into the Celtic Revival and the growth of Celtic nations. After World War II, the focus of the Celticity movement shifted to linguistic revival and protectionism, e.g. protecting Celtic languages.[3] The Celtic revival also led to the emergence of musical and artistic styles identified as Celtic. Music typically drew on folk traditions within the Celtic nations, and instruments such as Celtic harp. Art drew on decorative styles associated with the ancient Celts and with early medieval Celtic Christianity, along with folk-styles. Cultural events to promote "inter-Celtic" cultural exchange also emerged, including festivals.
Celtic festivals by country
Oceania
Australia
- Australia Day Celtic Festival[4] in North Sydney, New South Wales
- Australian Celtic Festival[5] in Glen Innes, New South Wales
- Balaklava Eisteddfod[6] in Balaklava, South Australia
- Beechworth Celtic Festival[7] in Beechworth, Victoria
- Berry Celtic Festival[8] in Berry, New South Wales
- Celtica Festival[9] in Port Adelaide, South Australia
- Kangaroo Valley Celtic Gala Day[10] in Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales
- Kapunda Celtic Festival[11] in Kapunda, South Australia
- Kernewek Lowender[12] in Moonta, South Australia
- Kilmore Celtic Festival[13] in Kilmore, Victoria
- National Celtic Festival[14] in Portarlington, Victoria
- Scots Day Out[15] in Bendigo, Victoria
- The Gathering[16] in Ipswich, Queensland
Europe
- Paganfest (Tour through Europe)[citation needed]
Switzerland
- Guinness Irish Festival,[17] in Sion
- Festival Celtique de Corbeyrier,[18] in Corbeyrier
Czech Republic
France
- Brandivy (section Breizh–Kernow Festival) (Brittany)
- Celtes Espaces, in Argenteuil[citation needed]
- Festival Celtique, in Plessé
- Festival Celtique du Gévaudan, in Grèzes, Lozère
- Festival de Cornouaille (Quimper)
- Festival Euroceltes, in Strasbourg[citation needed]
- Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Lorient)[22]
- Festiv'Arz, in Arzal
- Kan ar Bobl (Pontivy)[citation needed]
- Les Nuits Celtiques du Stade de France (Paris)[citation needed]
- Paris Celtic Live (Paris)[citation needed]
Germany
Ireland
- Arcadian Fields - Bellurgan House (Dundalk, Ireland)[citation needed]
- Ballyshannon Medieval Day/Lá Meánaois Bhéal Átha Seanaidh (Ballyshannon, Ireland)[citation needed]
- Biddy's Day - Imbolc (Killorglin, Ireland)[citation needed]
- Fleadh Cheoil (Tullamore, Ireland)
- Imram, a festival dedicated to Irish literature in the Irish-language.[24][25]
- Oireachtas na Gaeilge
- Pan Celtic Festival
- Puck Fair (Killorglin, Ireland)
- Seachtain na Gaeilge
- Willie Clancy Summer School (Milltown Malbay, Ireland)
Italy
- Montelago Celtic Night (Colfiorito, Macerata, Italy)[citation needed]
- Monterenzio Celtica,[26] I Fuochi di Taranis, Monterenzio, Bologna, Emilia Romagna
- Abruzzo Irish Festival,[27] in Notaresco, Teramo, Abruzzo
- Bundan Celtic Festival,[28] in Stellata, Ferrara, Emilia Romagna
- Celtica,[29] in Courmayeur, Valle d'Aosta
- Montelago Celtic Festival,[30] in Piana di Colfiorito, Serravalle di Chienti, Marche
- Triskell Celtic Festival[31] (Trieste, Italy)
- Celtival,[32] in Giavera del Montello, Treviso, Veneto
- Brintaal Celtic Folk,[33] in Valstagna, Vicenza, Veneto
Spain
- Celtic Night "Noche Celta" Festival[34] in Mijas Pueblo Main Square, Mijas, Málaga, Andalusia
- Interceltic Festival of Avilés or "Festival Intercéltico de Avilés" (Avilés, Asturies, Spain)
- Ortigueira's Festival of Celtic World,[35] Galicia
- Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira (Ortigueira, Galicia, Spain)
- Folixa na Primavera (Mieres, Asturies, Spain)[citation needed]
- Festival Celta Internacional Reino de León, (León, Spain)[citation needed]
- Festival Internacional de Música Celta de Collado Villalba (Collado Villalba, Spain)[citation needed]
Poland
- Zamek Festival,[36] in Będzin
Portugal
- Festival Intercéltico de Sendim (Sendim, Portugal)[37]
- Galaicofolia (Esposende, Portugal)[38]
- Festival Folk Celta Ponte da Barca (Ponte da Barca, Portugal)[citation needed]
- Douro Celtic Fest (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)[citation needed]
Romania
- Festivalul Celtic (Transylvania, Beclean City)[citation needed]
United Kingdom
Scotland
- Celtic Connections, Glasgow
- Fèis Bharraigh, Barra Fest, Isle of Barra
- Royal National Mòd, Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (Glasgow, Scotland)[39]
- Hebridean Celtic Festival (Stornoway, Scotland)[40]
Wales
- National Eisteddfod of Wales, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
- Urdd National Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod Yr Urdd
- Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod Llangollen
Northern Ireland
- Soma Festival (Castlewellan, Northern Ireland)
Cornwall
- AberFest, held in Falmouth (Aberfal) (alternating with Breizh-Kernow Festival in Brittany)
- Perranzabuloe, Lowender Peran, held at Perranporth, Cornwall, in honour of St Piran
Isle of Man
South America
Brazil
- Festival Celta Brasil, Campinas. São Paulo[citation needed]
North America
Canada
- Celtic Colours, Cape Breton Island. Nova Scotia
- Goderich Celtic Roots Festival
- Russell CelticFest[41]
- Almonte Celtfest[42]
- Vancouver Celtic Festival[43]
- Festival celtique de Québec or Québec City Celtic festival, (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada)[44]
- Festival Mémoire et Racines (Joliette, Quebec, Canada)[citation needed]
- Miramichi Irish Festival
Arizona
California
- Sonora Celtic Faire The Official First Celtic Faire in the USA: Sonora, CA
- Celtic Music & Heritage Festival in America's Oldest CELTIC City: St. Augustine, FL
- Los Angeles St. David's Day Festival, a Welsh festival held annually in Los Angeles, CA
Florida
Iowa
- Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Quad Cities in Davenport, IA
- Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, IA (first weekend in August)
Idaho
- Malad Valley Welsh Festival in Idaho
Maryland
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
- Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering in Hamilton, MT (every 3rd weekend in August)
New Jersey
- Union County Celtic Festival in Clark, NJ (first Saturday after Labor Day in Oak Ridge Park; next: September 7, 2024)[45]
- NJ Irish Festival at Monmouth Park Racetrack, (celebrating Irish-American culture since 1971)
- Irish Fall Festival (North Wildwood, New Jersey) (Ancient Order of Hibernians) (Also known as "Irish Weekend," it is the largest Irish festival on the East Coast)
- Ocean County Irish Festival
New Mexico
- 3 Celtic Festivals annually in New Mexico: RGVCF hosts one in May in Bernalillo City and another in October in the city of Edgewood. Also in October, Aztec City up in the 4 Corners area holds theirs.
New York
Ohio
Oregon
- Samhain Celtic New Year Festival, organized by the Ceili of the Valley Society, in Salem, OR
Pennsylvania
- Dills Celtic Festival at Dill's Tavern in Dillsburg, PA
- Philadelphia Fleadh in Philadelphia (in early May)
- Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA
- U.S. National Mòd during the annual Highland games in Ligonier, PA
South Carolina
Texas
- Houston Celtic Festival & Highland Games in Houston
- North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas
- Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Arlington, TX
- San Antonio Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival in Helotes, TX
- Sherwood Celtic Music Festival in McDade, TX
Washington State
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Caribbean
Barbados
Cuba
Africa
South Africa
- Celtic Fest South Africa[48] in Modderfontein, Gauteng, South Africa
- Celtic Festival, Knysna, Western Cape[citation needed]
Further reading
- Armao, Frederic (2022). Uisneach or the Center of Ireland. New York City: Routledge. ISBN 978-0367697709.
- Danaher, Kevin (1972) The Year in Ireland. Dublin, Mercier ISBN 1-85635-093-2
- MacKillop, James (1998). Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. New York City: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-869157-2.
Gallery
Weissmann Irish 2008
St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival
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References
External links
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