Anglo-Celtic is a macro-cultural term[1] used to collectively describe the cultures native to the Britain and Ireland, and the significant diasporas located in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. It is used in Anglo-Celtic Isles[2][3], an alternative term (in limited use) for the geographic region comprising the islands of Great Britain, Ireland and smaller adjacent islands, more commonly referred to as the British Isles — the former geographic term being preferred by some due to it being free of any perceived political implication and the latter term by others. The derivative term 'Anglo-Celtic Islands'[4] is also used. It is additionally used in the context of 'Anglo-Celtic Warfare'[5] to describe the period of warfare in Britain between 410 and 1066 CE. It is also used as a notional racial category. "Anglo", in this instance, is an abbreviation for Anglo-Saxon, a collective term for ancient Germanic peoples who settled in Britain (especially England) in the middle of the first millennium. As the Normans who arrived from France and settled mainly in England after 1066 are commonly known as 'Anglo-Norman', the term can also be inclusive of this cultural group. "Celtic", in this instance, refers to the Celtic peoples predominantly inhabiting Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. The term does not include the Celtic peoples of continental Europe, such as the Bretons. Recent archaeological and historical research suggests that the British Celts were not totally wiped out or driven away from the areas conquered by the Anglo-Saxons from the fifth century onwards. In many places in England the indigenous Celtic population and the newcomers enjoyed forms of relatively peaceful coexistence. This, and the subsequent process of language shift on the part of the Celtic population, left more traces in the English language than has hitherto been assumed.[6]
Contents |
Usage in colonised countries
The term is used most commonly in Australia to describe people there of British and/or Irish descent. Australian usage of the term reflects the ethnocultural fusion of early Australian settler society. It is considered to refer to the ethnic majority in Australia, where it applies to at least 80% of the population.[7] It is common for an Anglo-Celtic Australian to have an ancestor from two or more British or Irish cultures (for more information, see Anglo-Celtic Australian). To a lesser degree the term is also used in Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States. There is a newspaper sold in the Irish counties of Cavan, Fermanagh and Monaghan named ‘The Anglo-Celt’.[8] It is used by secessionists in the Southern United States, such as the League of the South, whose mission statement is "to protect the historic Anglo-Celtic core culture of the South because the Scots, Irish, Welsh, and English have given Dixie its unique institutions and civilization" [9]
References
- ^ "The Global Etiquette Guide to Europe", by Dean Foster
- ^ “Celtic Geographies: Old Culture, New Times”, Harvey, David; Jones, Rhys; McInroy, Neil; Milligan, Christine. Routledge, 2001, p. 241
- ^ Anglo-Celtic.org.uk – Exploring England's Celtic Roots
- ^ Springer Publishing Press Release
- ^ "Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars: Anglo-Celtic Warfare A.D.410-1066"
- ^ "English & Celtic in Contact"
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003, "Population characteristics: Ancestry of Australia's population" (from 'Australian Social Trends, 2003'). Retrieved 01 September 2006.
- ^ "The Anglo-Celt" newspaper
- ^ The League of the South’s Position on Preserving Traditional Southern Culture from 'Texas League of the South'. Retrieved 01 September 2006.
