Are you REALLY Celtic?

[JakobT]

a DNA project done in Scotland had shown that in Orkney, Shetland & the far north Scottish mainland that 60% of the male population had Viking DNA.

So if your ancestors are from these regions you maynot be as Celt as you think but maybe a son of Odin

This is certainly true. As an aside, I can mention that being Norwegian, with no Celtic ancestors that I know of, I too have big and second toes of equal length.

[Nighthawk]

Be right there !

Mmmm.... Cutty Sark scotch... Happy St Pat's Day!

[Bob C]

Yup, same length toes.

What I CANNOT understand is WHY ghillie brogue makers make their brogues in NARROW sizes.

So people like me can wear them?

[Cerebite]

My grandmother was born in Glasgow (Scotland, not Kentucky). And my second toes are also bigger than the big ones. So I feel secure in claiming that I am a Celt.

My grandmother was born and raised in Glasgow KY and I have all of the Celtic characteristics [red hair, wide feet with high arches, long middle toe]

...Now to throw a monkey wrench into the toe thing. The trait of having a "big" or first toe shorter than the next is not being linked to anything Celtic. It is being linked to the H Haploid genetic group. These are only one group of peoples who came north from the Middle East, split into two with one going into the Balkans and one across the northern Mediterranean Sea. The Peoples who settled in the British Isles after the last Ice age arrived from the Atlantic seaboard of France. Before that they were in the Basque region of Spain. and before that N. Italy.

Interesting that you say that as I have done extensive genealogical research and have NO Celtic lines per se. Of the four lines one has been in N America for almost four centuries, two are from Germany, and the most recent [1910] is from Croatia which is where I think I got my "celtic" characteristics.

That being said I am obviously channeling some ancient genetic memory with my love of all things celtic and anglican including recently taking up kilt wearing part time.

[auld argonian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Celts_800-400BC.PNG

Best

AA

[ccga3359]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Celts_800-400BC.PNG

Best

AA

I'm from the pink bit just east of Hamish.

[floridaredhead]

Given the information I've picked up re: Celtic and Norwegian history, I always thought the red-headed gene originated with the Germanic and/or Scandinavian people. They brought that gene to Scotland and Britain and anywhere else their boats took them.

:scratches red hair:

PS: My ancestry is a mix of Celto-Germanic.

[northernsky]

Now to throw a monkey wrench into the toe thing. The trait of having a "big" or first toe shorter than the next is not being linked to anything Celtic. It is being linked to the H Haploid genetic group. These are only one group of peoples who came north from the Middle East, split into two with one going into the Balkans and one across the northern Mediterranean Sea. The Peoples who settled in the British Isles after the last Ice age arrived from the Atlantic seaboard of France. Before that they were in the Basque region of Spain. and before that N. Italy.

Well regardless of whether it is a Greek toe or a Celtic toe or any other kind, I can speak from experience, that if you don't keep it trimmed, you'll wear out your good hose sooner than you expect....

[ardchoille]

My big toe is just slightly shorter than the toe next to it.. but I already knew I was of Celtic descent

[Galb]

Awesome article that makes every man remove their shoes.