Celts

The people groups who speak the Celtic languages, primarily of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man.

The Celts were the first ethnic group to become widespread in Europe. Using tribes rather than stable civilizations, the Celts began in central Europe and migrated west beginning in about 500 B.C. to the British Isles (especially Ireland) and also northwest France and portions of Spain. Their religion consisted of worshipping gods and goddesses, and their priests were called “druids”. They had no written language but often told myths and folktales.

Pronunciation

The name "Celt" and the adjective "celtic" can be pronounced with either a hard or a soft c. According to dictionaries the hard-c version ("kelt") is more common, and perhaps more correct since it is derived from the Greek word keltoi.

The Boston Celtics basketball team is named after the Celts, a loose reference to Boston's Irish association; the team name is always pronounced with a soft c, as if it were spelled "seltics."