The Celtic world stretched from Ireland to Turkey. It's difficult to identify today exactly who and what may legitimately be termed "Celtic," but, at the very least, we know that the Celts shared a bundle of linguistic and cultural traits distributed among various Iron Age peoples who profoundly shaped pre-Roman Europe.
By 500 years ago the most Celtic areas were (and still are) considered to be the western Iberian Peninsula, Brittany (northwestern France), and the British Isles (Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales). Chances are, the majority of us have one or more lines of Celtic connection. Moreover, the Anglican traditions of which we are part began in the Celtic world.
This weekend, in recognition of those many streams of historical, cultural, and, in many cases, ethnic connections, we will join as the Deanery of the Keys in the Diocese of Southeast Florida for Holy Eucharist outdoors at the Keys Celtic Festival. This is year eleven of the festival which is enormously well run by the clergy and people of St Columba Episcopal Church in Marathon along with volunteers from parishes across the diocese. All proceeds benefit Hammock House, a ministry of St Columba, which provides after-school and summer-vacation educational enrichment and support to children in the Middle Keys.
As a rule, it's only the clergy of the diocese and the elected delegates of the congregations who are able to worship together, especially on a Sunday. On January 7, we will celebrate the Epiphany together as the five Keys congregations--St Peter's (Key West), St Paul's (Key West), St Francis in the Keys (Big Pine), St Columba (Marathon), and St James the Fisherman (Islamorada)--gather in person at Marathon Community Park.
Find out more about the festival here: https://floridakeyscelticfestival.com/
Plan to attend worship at 9:30 AM at the park in front of the bandstand. Arrive early to park and find your way into the park. And plan to stay and enjoy Celtic heritage entertainment, music, athletics, food, drink, and fun. Wear your tartan or other Celtic dress if you have it! See you there!
Login To Leave Comment