Who Were The Celts ?
It is believed that the Celts were a collection of tribes
came from central Europe or further east, from
southern Russia, and had moved slowly westwards in
earlier centuries. Although separate tribes, they had
similar culture, traditions, religious beliefs and language
in common.
What did the Celts call themselves ?
We don’t actually know what the Celts called
themselves. The name ‘Celts’ is a modern name used to
describe many collection of tribes who lived during the
Iron Age, they were more generally known by the name
of those tribes or societies
Where did the Celts come from ?
Early sources place Celts in western Europe and also
occupying land near the headwaters of the Danube
River. Their home territories have often been traced to
central and eastern France, extending across southern
Germany and into the Czech Republic.
When did they arrive to Britain ?
It is believed that the Celts arrived at the shores of
Britain at approximately 1,000BC and lived there during
the Iron Age, the Roman Age and the post Roman era.
Their legacy continues today where examples of the
language, culture and traditions continue to exist.
What languages did the Celts speak ?
Tracing the beginnings of Celtic languages is difficult.
Most agree that they derive from an earlier language
known as 'proto-Indo-European'.
George Buchanon, a 16th-century scholar, suggested
that the peoples of continental Europe had once spoken
a related group of Gallic languages. Since modern
Welsh, Irish and Scots Gaelic were similar to these
ancient languages, the people of Britain, it was argued,
originally came from France and Spain.
Architecture
The Celtic Revival in architecture depended upon
ancient shrines, castles, and vernacular buildings – folk
art – for models and so can be regarded as a
manifestation of the National Romanticism that inspired
remarkable new styles in emerging nations all over
Europe towards the end of the 19th century.
How did the Celts look like ?
Looking again at the recordings by Roman literature, the
Celts were described as wearing brightly colored
clothes, with some having used blue dye from the woad
plant to paint patterns on their bodies.
What did they wear ?
They are known for their colorful wool clothing and
later on the Scottish Tartan. The clothes the Celts would
wear showed status and importance within the tribe.
The usual Celtic attire would include a tunic and a belt,
as well as a long cloak and trousers which were
fastened by a ’fibuale’.
In fact, many historians have noted that the Celts were
one of the first people in Europe to wear trousers, the
‘fibuale’ would be clasps, which were used to fasten
their trousers.
What did the Celts eat ?
They would grow their own plants, farm and hunt
animals for food.
Their diet would include, wild foods such as
mushrooms, berries, nettles, wild garlic and apples they
would also eat spinach, onions, leeks, carrots and
parsnips, blackberries, gooseberries and blueberries.
Hazelnuts and walnuts as well as grains for bread and
porridge would also feature in their diet.
As for meat, they would hunt deer, foxes, beavers, wild
boars and bears as well as farm domesticated animals
such as chickens, goats, sheep, pigs and cattle. They
would also fish for Salmon, Trout or Mackerel. They
would also eat eggs from hens and wild birds, along
with insects and honey from bees.