Video: Fest-Noz, Festival of the Bretons
In northern France and around the world, Fest-Noz festivals are a way to keep ancient Breton music alive.
How can communities hold on to their old traditions in the face of modernization? In France’s northern Brittany region, dance has long been a social custom bringing people together. More than most other parts of Europe, Brittany has held on to the traditions of indigenous Breton people, including through music and dance. Families danced at festivals, to celebrate the harvest, or even to help stamp flat the foundation of a new home. But as these old ways of life faded, the dances that accompanied them were also in danger of disappearing. Cue Fest-Noz, a now global festival celebrating Breton music, dance, and other customs.
Fest-Noz festivals typically involve mass gatherings of people, coming together to dance to traditional instruments and songs. The ancient dances practiced by Breton ancestors are kept alive through mass participation. This is made easier by the fact that most Breton dances were highly social, made up of large groups in circles or chains. As the descendants of Breton communities spread across the world, they also carried Fest-Noz, and their ancestral heritage, with them.
This video, courtesy of UNESCO, explores the history of Brittany, Fest-Noz, and its modern celebrations. All are welcome, so if you see that a Fest-Noz is being held in your hometown, be sure to visit and enjoy yourself!
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