The fest-deiz is a Breton tradition which gathers people in the community together to share an afternoon dancing to traditional Breton music and eating traditional Breton food such as galettes. The word fest-deiz literally means "party day" and is pronounced "fest days" (\fɛst.deiz\). This was the first time I had ever participated in one, but I was pleasantly surprised with some dancing and a few yummy treats! I also got to practice speaking a little Breton along the way.
This week I learned about the fest-deiz and its close cousin the fest-noz (the equivalent celebration at night-time). These two celebrations take place year-round all around the Brittany region and range from a few dozen to a few thousand people. The dances vary between each region, which means that any given fest-deiz is sure to be a unique blend of the cultural upbringing of the dancers present that day (i.e. everyday people like you and me).
At today's fest-deiz on the Villejean Campus of the University of Rennes, the crowd practiced a number of different dances. Many involved twirling, locking arms and spinning in a large circle and dancing in pairs.
