Are the Portuguese Celtic?

Did you know that the Northern part of Portugal, from the Rio Douro, has genetic and cultural ties with Celtic nations like Ireland, Galicia, Asturias, and even the Basque Country. So, yes, the Portuguese are Celts, in a certain sense. Portugal is also a country where the Celtic tradition lives on.

When did Celts arrive in Iberia?

Celtic presence in Iberia likely dates to as early as the 6th century BC, when the castros evinced a new permanence with stone walls and protective ditches.

Where did the Celts originate?

The Celts were a collection of tribes with origins in central Europe that shared a similar language, religious beliefs, traditions and culture.

Did the Celts originate in Spain?

Although there is uncertainty regarding the origins of the Iberians, there is agreement that another significant group, the Celts, formed part of a general European migratory phenomenon which, in Spain, is marked by two waves, the first traditionally placed around 900 BC and the second around 700-600 BC.

Was the Lusitanian culture essentially a Celtic culture?

Some believe it was essentially a pre-Celtic Iberian culture with substantial Celtic influences, while others argue that it was an essentially Celtic culture with strong indigenous pre-Celtic influences associated with the Beaker culture . The Lusitanians worshiped various gods in a very diverse polytheism, using animal sacrifice.

Where was the Lusitanian language spoken?

The language was spoken in the territory inhabited by Lusitanian tribes, from the Douro to the Tagus rivers, territory which today falls in central Portugal and western Spain. Lusitanian is an Indo-European language believed different from the Hispano-Celtic languages of the Iberian Peninsula.

Who were the important Lusitanians before the Roman conquest?

Punicus was another important Lusitanian chief before the Roman conquest. He ruled the Lusitanians (before Viriathus) for some time, leading the tribes in the resistance against Roman attempts of conquest, and was successful.

What is the origin of the Portuguese language?

Most Portuguese consider the Lusitanians as their ancestors, although the northern regions (Minho, Douro, Trás-os-Montes) identify more with the Gallaecians . Prominent modern linguists such as Ellis Evans believe that Gallaecian -Lusitanian was one language (not separate languages) of the “p” Celtic variant.