St Yves’ Day, celebrated on May 19th, honours Saint Yves (or Yves Hélory), the patron saint of Brittany. 

Born in 1253 in Brittany, Saint Yves dedicated his life to serving the poor and needy, gaining a reputation for his advocacy for justice and fairness. His feast day is celebrated with religious ceremonies, processions, and cultural events across Brittany, particularly in his birthplace of Tréguier.

Brittany’s Celtic heritage dates back to ancient times when Celtic tribes settled in the region around 500 BC. These tribes, notably the Veneti, formed a distinct Celtic culture characterised by their language, customs, and traditions. Over time, Brittany developed as a Celtic stronghold, with its own distinct identity separate from the rest of France.

The Celtic influence in Brittany is evident in various aspects of its culture, including language, music, dance, and folklore. Breton, a Celtic language closely related to Welsh and Cornish, is still spoken by a minority of residents today. Traditional Breton music, such as the bagad and fest-noz, showcases Celtic musical traditions, while Breton folklore is rich with tales of mythical creatures and legends tied to Celtic mythology.

Born of the region’s desire to bring together the full diversity of Breton culture, since 2009 the Fête de la Bretagne has enabled Bretons and friends of Brittany to get together to dance, sing, celebrate and share their identity with as many people as possible. The aim is to give everyone a taste of Brittany. So, every year in May, for 10 days or so around Saint Yves’ Day, all kinds of events are organised in Brittany, the rest of France and around the world. Concerts, street performances, storytelling, hikes, fest-noz: hundreds of events have been enjoyed by the public. Full details of the program are available at www.fetedelabretagne.bzh

Here in Australia, to celebrate St Yve’s Day, The Australian Standing Stones Management Board in Glen Innes, New South Wales, will conduct a flag lowering ceremony to honour St Yves.

BZH Sydney promotes the culture, economy and tourism of Brittany in Sydney. They hold regular events and Breton dance classes. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/bzhsydney.

Main picture: BZH Sydney celebrate Breton culture with meet-ups and dance classes. Credit: Facebook/BZHSydney

Above and cover photo: Scenes from Fete De La Bretagne. Credit: fetedelabretagne.bzh