The Fest-noz: A Way to Live Breton Culture
The Fest-noz: A Way to Live Breton Culture

Summary/Abstract: The history of the Breton language and culture of the XX and XXI century is narrated through the fest-noz phenomenon story. Fest-noz (‘night festival’) is a meeting where people dance in groups to live folk music accompaniment. Traditionally these festivals were organized in the small region of Central Brittany and were connected to important community occasions. This tradition was slowly disappearing in the 20’s and 30’s of the XXth century to die out after WW II when the Breton culture was depreciated and connected with the negative identity of the Bretons. Fest-noz was recreated and in 50’s and has become an invented tradition. In the 60’s with the social and cultural movements leading to the revalorization of the minority fest-noz became the symbol of a Breton ethnic revival. Today it is one of the most significant marks of Breton identification. Every year there are hundreds fest-noz organized all around Brittany, from small local celebrations to huge musical events. Participation in fest-noz is one of the ways of conscious creation of the Breton cultural identity.

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