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Once dominating much of Europe north of the Alps as well as the British Isles, the Celts are now generally thought of as being condensed into six small nations: Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall. Yet Celtic culture has not diminished in size to become merely a tourist's idea of kilts, bagpipes, harps, step dancing and whiskey. Rather, a vast spectrum of tradition continues to renew and recreate itself. It has been said of the ancient Celts that they dreamed their history, that there was no division between it and mythology. Indeed, ancestors that were revered historically often evolved into deities within the Celtic pantheon. However, this should be by no means interpreted that the Celts made up history. Rather, it should be understood that Celtic society across Britain and Europe was mainly of the oral tradition, their histories sung by bards in a poetic format meant to keep the stories alive and able to survive war, famine, social and political upheavals. It was not until the Middle Ages that the tales began to be written down. Many are still well known, including those of King Lyr and his daughters, King Arthur, Cuchulain, faeries, dragons, and too many more to list. CElTiC CUlTURE
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