Celtic Recipes

Celtic Festival of Beltane - Fire and Fertility

Submitted by Niall McCarsten on April 16, 2014 - 7:21pm

Beltane Fire Festival bonfire

The Celtic year is divided by the four annual Celtic Feast Days which are celebrated on the first of the month: the November Celtic New Year of Samhain (Halloween), Imbolg which was also the Feast Day of the Celtic Goddess Brigid in February, the May Spring Festival of Beltane and the August Harvest Festival of Lughnasa.

Unique amongst the Four Celtic Feast days, Beltane observances have survived in essentially archaic form due in part to its simplicity in that the celebrations historically included the lighting of bonfires.  Elements of the tradition have survived into modern times throughout the Six Nations with remnants of the ancient customs surviving into the 20th century in Ireland, Cornwall, Scotland and the Isle of Man (MacKillop).  As the Pan-Celtic movement continues to strengthen, Beltane is experiencing resurgence.

There is evidence that Beltane had its origins in rituals associated with the Pan-Celtic Solar God "Bel" and it is believed that the Druidical Orders historically played a central role.

Cornwall Branch Celtic League expresses solidarity with Brittany!

Submitted by Myghal Map Serpren on April 15, 2014 - 4:48pm

In the face of increased demonstrations in Breizh with the spread of the grass roots 'Red Bonnets' movement, the Cornwall Branch of the Celtic League - An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek have issued the following message of support:

Irish Language Protesters March in Belfast - "We Ask Only For The Legal Protection of Our Rights"

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on April 15, 2014 - 4:09pm

Saturday 12 April saw an estimated 5,000  to 10,000 protesters march though the streets of Belfast to demand increased protection for the ancient tongue of Ireland.  The Belfast march is a continuation of the Irish Language protests that started in Dublin on Saturday 15th February when an estimated 10,000 people marched to protect the rights of the Irish speaking community.  The Dublin march attracted people from all over Ireland.

Isle of Man Department of Education & Children's Manx Folk Awards

Submitted by Valerie Caine on April 14, 2014 - 8:47pm

Organised by the Isle of Man Department of Education and Children, the annual Manx Folk Awards (Aundyr yn Kiaull Theay Vannin) were held at the Kensington Road Youth Arts Centre in Douglas at the beginning of April.

Although only in its third year in this format, the competitions, aimed at school children, have grown rapidly in popularity, encompassing Manx music, song, dance and poetry and were organised in conjunction with Culture Vannin and Manx National Heritage.

The Cornish Revival - Final Standard Written Form for the Cornish Tongue

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on April 13, 2014 - 3:22pm

In a watershed event for the Celtic language of Cornwall, the Cornish Language Partnership (MAGA) have announced the finalisation of the Standard Written Form (SWF) for the Cornish language.  The announcement last week that the final SWF has been adopted is the culmination of a process that dates back several years.  The initiative came from recognition that a vital component of the restoration of the Cornish tongue was a sanctioned written form of Cornish, or SWF.

"Our country, our Scotland, our independence". This is our moment Alex Salmond tells Scottish People.

Submitted by Douglas MacQueen on April 13, 2014 - 12:10pm

In a rousing speech to the Scottish National Party conference in Aberdeen, Alex Salmond Scotland’s First Minister tells Scots that "in an independent Scotland we will build a system that will be the envy of the world." With the opinion polls showing that Scotland’s voters our moving towards voting Yes to independence Alex Salmond said "make no mistake - momentum is with this campaign.  The people are coming towards us.”

Isle of Man: Celtic Festival Season Gets Underway!

Submitted by Valerie Caine on April 11, 2014 - 7:11pm

The 43rd Pan Celtic Festival will cross the Irish border for the first time in its history this year as the annual celebration of all things Celtic moves to the city of Derry in Northern Ireland.

It’s a great opportunity for those from the Celtic nations to come together and celebrate the occasion through music and song, attracting a sizeable number of competitors from the Isle of Man, with the assistance of the Isle of Man Arts Council.

New UK Culture Secretary’s Hostility to Devolution is a Warning Scotland Needs to Vote Yes to Independence

Submitted by Douglas MacQueen on April 10, 2014 - 9:14am

After the recent expenses scandal in the UK government, the minister involved resigned. For those abroad and not aware of the issues involved, the expenses claimed by members of the United Kingdom parliament over recent years have been the focal point of public scrutiny and criminal prosecutions. Questions about the previous UK Culture Ministers expenses claims resulted in her stepping down from her position this week.

Isle of Man: London Exhibition Celebrates the Work of Archibald Knox

Submitted by Valerie Caine on April 9, 2014 - 11:46pm

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of the world famous designer and artist Archibald Knox, with a number of events organised by the Archibald Knox Society to celebrate the occasion.

Born on the Isle of Man in 1864, Archibald Knox became one of the most influential figures in the British Art Nouveau/arts and crafts movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly in respect of his dynamic partnership with the celebrated Liberty & Co of London.

The Scots Gaelic Comeback - Children are Returning to the Tongue

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on April 9, 2014 - 6:20pm

Citing the 2013 census figures which show that Scots Gaelic has stabilised in the language heartlands, and that fluency is on the rise with speakers younger than 20 years of age, the New Statesman carries a heartening article on the resurgence of Scots Gaelic. Written by Cal Flyn, the article is based on anecdotes from his family who can be best described has "fallen away Gaelic Speakers".

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