What about the term Celtic...

[sterling420]

...do you hate it, love it, or do you accept it as an easy shorthand to help Non-"Celts" understand "who" you are?

[Scottish_Republican]

I don't know what to make of it. I am beginning to think it's bad because it's been so hijacked. Real "Celtic" culture is our Gaelic language... not this fake, twee emasculated pseudo-religious muck and knotwork patterns that get sold to tourists...

It's just like the Red Indians... as soon as they've just about wiped them out, they suddenly started hijacking their religious beliefs, and turning them into some kind of eco-warriors, close to nature etc... this is what's happened with the so called modern Celts, their languages and REAL cultures have been all but wiped out and/or made "safe" so now they can be compromised.

[PeterSandy]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Republican

I don't know what to make of it. I am beginning to think it's bad because it's been so hijacked. Real "Celtic" culture is our Gaelic language... not this fake, twee emasculated pseudo-religious muck and knotwork patterns that get sold to tourists...

It's just like the Red Indians... as soon as they've just about wiped them out, they suddenly started hijacking their religious beliefs, and turning them into some kind of eco-warriors, close to nature etc... this is what's happened with the so called modern Celts, their languages and REAL cultures have been all but wiped out and/or made "safe" so now they can be compromised.

Real "Celtic" culture is our Gaelic language. Well said!

[wullie m]

In Yorkshire you mean? wullie.

[Duthill]

So that would be Danelaw 'gaelic' eh Jorviky

[Lianachan]

It's an archaic term, which shouldn't really be used nowadays by anybody who knows what they're talking about. It started off in the 16th century as a linguistic term, used to describe a family of languages in Britain. The use of the word was expanded to include non-linguistic matters, pertaining to some similarities in culture and suchlike (which didn't necessarily overlap the linguistic centres) - particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The notion of "Celtic" countries is a modern one, and largely has its roots in the practice of grouping together the places where these old Celtic languages were spoken. Contrary to what Victorian antiquarians asserted, there never was a race of Celts.

Just like "Viking", it is a horribly misused word (almost never used correctly), but due to its popularity it is extremely convenient. Everybody knows what you mean when you say it, even though it has no actual basis or merit.

[tig]

id agree with lachlan there

the only time its said correctly is when you say it in french

mon le celtic