Are you REALLY Celtic?

[Sealark]

Well this is news to me, but growing up in a family of Red heads and my toes follow the pattern mentioned, I can most proudly say that I have Celtic blood in me. Thanks for the interesting data in the article.

[Arlen]

The ligaments and joint seem to be far more prominent than mine, and also stiff - I can pick things up with my toes.

For some reason that really freaks out some people. Not that I do it on purpose. Not a bit.

Oh man, my wife does that.
She decided when she was a bairn that she wanted to learn how to do things with her feet... Like peel bananas and write with her feet.

Why do you people have to show off so much!?

[kilted_brewer]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this. Sorry I couldn't think of a toe pun. I really wanted to(e).

[hallmarktex]

Ha! Vindication at last!

My wife (maiden name of Kennedy) has always said I was less Scottish because her name is Celtic and mines not (despite having both Clark and Ross for direct ancestors). My toes tell a different story. When we were kids, my sisters said we all had "finger toes" because the middle digits are long compared to the big toes and that makes the big toes like thumbs next to the long middle and third toes. Picking up stuff with your toes? I thought everyone did that. Maybe it's just all Celts!

[Nick the DSM]

holy crud!! theyre the same length!

[Streetcar]

I've always been told that size isn't important.....





(Sorry, someone had to say it!)

[O'Neille]

Personally, I have hobbit feet. Three toes the same length and very furry. I guess this explains those pointy shoes in the Book of Kells.

[Drillagent]

I heard about the toe thing a few years ago. My first three toes are equal length. My hair (what little there is) is light brown, but my beard is a deep red. Never could figure that one out. Now I know.

Another good one is that native Scots/Picts/Britons have wider feet than those of Anglo-Saxon or Germanic heritage.
It's a technique archaeologists studying skeletons often use to determine if remains in the U.K are native peoples.

And this explains my problems finding shoes wide enough to fit my big feet.

[Howard Clark]

Well that explained everything dinnit ?

[Andrewson]

My big toes are shorter than the next ones so I guess I can claim to be a Celt.

What I have also been told is that this condition "leads to over pronation" which seems to mean I am liable to walk on the outer edge of my feet and this habit has led to pain and discomfort in my old age. I now wear orthotic insoles to try to correct this and it is certainly an improvement if not a full cure.

So as you revel in your celtishness ... look out for the down side too