Celtic Coloring Pages
The Celts were a family of peoples who spread across Europe more than 2,000 years ago, and their stories and symbols are still with us today. This page walks through their history in order, with links to the creatures and myths they left behind.
The Ancient Celts
The Celts started out in central Europe, around the Alps, and their culture was growing as early as 1200 B.C. Over the centuries they spread west to Ireland, Britain, France and Spain, and east and south into northern Italy, Belgium and even Turkey, where they became known as the Galatians. They shared a language family, similar beliefs and a love of art, music and storytelling. Their druids were the teachers, judges and advisors to kings, and their bards kept history alive in song.
The Romans were their most famous neighbors, and the two peoples fought for centuries. Rome never conquered Ireland, and it never fully held Scotland, which is a big reason Celtic traditions lasted there.
Ireland
Ireland kept its Celtic language, music and stories longer than almost anywhere else, and its myths were written down in medieval books, which is why so many of them survive. Leprechauns, banshees and the Sidhe all come from here.
Scotland
Scottish Gaelic stories share some heroes with Ireland, like Fingal, who is the Irish Fionn mac Cumhaill. Viking raids on the coast mixed a few Norse tales into the mix as well. You'll find more on the Scotland coloring pages.
Wales
Welsh myths were collected in the Mabinogi, a set of tales from medieval Welsh books that mix gods, magic, heroes and shapeshifters. King Arthur's story has Welsh roots too.
Celtic Culture Today
The Celts never disappeared. Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Cornish and Breton are all still spoken, and Celtic music, festivals and designs live on in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and well beyond.
