Western+Europe

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media type="youtube" key="eF5pEsJQlxI" width="425" height="350" align="right" This song is a traditional celtic song called Scottland the brave. The six Celtic nations, as recognised by the Celtic League: Scotland Ireland Mann Wales Cornwall Brittany


 * History of Celtic People**

Celtic music is part of an ancient culture that was carried on through word of mouth and storytelling. The Celts, a people of Western Europe, sang and danced for entertainment and for protest. They played a variety of musical instruments that are still popular today (see Traditional Celtic Instruments). Celtic dance is also very well known. Jigs, "Riverdance", and other celtic dances are still a part of today's Western European culture. The Celtic people are known for being warriors (the people from the mountains) as well as farmers (the people from the lowlands). "But in spite of their martial inclinations they were also known for their qualities of chivalry, courage and dauntless bravery, their more aggressive tendencies being balanced out by a great sensitivity to music, poetry and philosophy." ([|http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/history.html#origins]). Regardless of where they were from, the Celts were very spiritual. They believed in the power of nature, in reincarnation, and of divine beings on earth.


 * Traditional Celtic Instruments**

The Bagpipes are one of the oldest instruments known to man. Doezens of types of bagpipes today are played across Europe and the Middle East.
 * Bagpipes-** Musical instrument with reed pipes connected to a windbag held under the arm and filled by mouth or bellows. The chanter pipe has finger-holes for melody, while drone pipes produce monotone accompaniment.


 * Flute-** The flute has been used in celtic music for over a thousand years. The type of flute we use today uses the "simple system". But many celtic musicians use the wooden flute for it's better sound.


 * Fiddle-**The fiddle is the main istrument of most celtic music. It is the exact same instrument as the violin.The fiddle is the term used in traditional music for the violin.


 * Harp-**Irish and Scottish harps are small, and can be played on the knee. They have a soft and gentle sound which is used in many celtic songs.


 * Literature**

For such a small island, Ireland has made a very large contribution to the world's literature. Literature from Ireland includes both the Irish and English languages. The island's most widely-known literary works are in English. The most famous examples of these are the ones by James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Ireland's four winners of the Nobel Prize of Literature;William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.


 * Visial Arts**

, Stephanie Maclean is a Scottish painter. She paints a lot of paintings about nature, the ocean, and hills.


 * Dance**

The most well known dance in Western Europe is the Irish Jig. media type="youtube" key="emCIxAJCe2g" width="425" height="350"

Celtic food has been around for centuries, and it has stayed true to its roots even after all these years. Most Celtic cuisine is built around meat and potatoes, which can be cooked and served in a variety of ways, including boiled, poached, baked and stewed. It also includes many savory dishes that utilize gourmet cheeses, bacon and lamb.
 * //Food and Drink//**

By Chad Ruth, Abby Haggerty, and Devon Chase

Instruments- @http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Scotland @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_traditional_music History- @http://www.standingstones.com/celtmusic.html []
 * Sources**

Images- [] [|www.pepysdiary.com/.../ 200px-Celtic_harps.JPG] [|www.cfsworldmusic.wikispaces.com/] file/view/Fiddle Video- [] [] h