Fest-noz at Trévignon


A Fest-noz is a kind of Breton Noson Lawen. This one was held at a beautoful place called Trévignon and it began with food and a male voice choir singing sea-shanties. The food was chipolata or merguez and chips or tuna or sardines and ratatouille. It was David's first encounter with French chipolatas (they're very good) and my first encounter with a big slab of grilled tuna (also very good).

The man grilling the tuna was very friendly, especially when he heard that we're Welsh. Generally the folk of this area like meeting the Welsh and I ended up chatting with lots of folk. One guy told me that the British who came and settled in this area in the 6th century came from Wales. Ah bon.



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Comments

gethin said…
Indeed. Breton is in the same branch of Celtic languages as Welsh, it's basically an off-shoot of old Welsh. There's a Celtic shop in the lovely Quimper (or least there was - haven't been to Brittanny for over 6 years) that sole stuff in all the Celtic languages and the owner had actually learnt Welsh (and possibly some of the others).
Alan said…
Yes. We listened to Breton radio and also went to a concert of songs entirely in Breton, but I was disappointed with my level of understanding. Cornish radio was easier - it was just like Welsh with a speech impediment and a west-country accent (no CH or LL and lovely rolled r's)
Alan said…
Oh yes - he meant they came from Wales rather than from elsewhere in Britain in general. Of course at the time of the saxon invasion virtually everyone in southern Britain spoke British - the precursor to Welsh, Cornish and Breton.

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