Bretons in America or the story of migrations

Many Bretons set sail for America... A look back at these migration periods and what remains today

As Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) so well said, 'Wherever the sun passes, a Breton passes' ('MAR TREMEN AN HEOL, E TREMEN AR BREIZAD '). Understand it rather as 'Bretons are great travelers' and not 'Bretons flee the rain', of course.

It is true that Bretons are famous for their wanderlust and that there are few places in the world where they have not settled. In fact, over 1.6 million Bretons emigrated between the 19th and 20th centuries. While the majority eventually settled in other regions of France, many were tempted by America - even the grandmother of Rambo (who, as you can see in the image, is not afraid of the rain)!

"America, America, I want it and I will have it"

America, Joe Dassin wanted it. The Bretons saw it.

They first arrived in Canada, and some even believe they settled there before the Malouin Jacques Cartier, known for taking possession of the 'New Lands'. In 1608, the founding of Quebec City pushed a large French colony to settle in Canada. Then, to wage the American War of Independence (1775-1783), the French fleet, the Royale, based in Brest, embarked over 10,000 Bretons alongside sailors from Mediterranean ports.

After a slowdown in transatlantic migration in the early 1900s, Bretons once again set off for Canada. The town of Gourin, for example, is well known for its strong migration to the New World where the first settlers founded the city of Gourin City at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

The lights of the Big Apple then attracted many Bretons (some settled in Canada, others came directly from Brittany). Factories offered jobs and a recruitment network was set up among Bretons. Many returned to Brittany, homesick, but others stayed and left an undeniable Armorican imprint on America.

"What remains of our loves? "

But yes, Charles, what remains of the Bretons' love for America? The traces of their passage are numerous. From the smell of the galette sausage in the New York borough of Queens to the footballers of the Stade Brestois New York (or Stade Breton), these traces of Breton migration persist in the United States. Even the Kouign-Amann has conquered America. Sold for $5, these 100% pure butter treats were^th ranked among the top 2 trendy foods discovered in 2011 (right after Canadian poutine), by readers of the Huffington Post. It is not uncommon to hear, from afar, the sound of bagpipes, bombards, and bagpipes to the rhythm of Breton bagads invited as friends for St. Patrick's Day celebrations. And of course, the indispensable 'Gwenn ha Du' flag often flies in the air during popular gatherings.

Bretons have well understood that music, dance, food, and celebrations are great ways to make friends around the world. They are the vectors of a millennial history that they like to tell.

You can find Bretons 'at all times and everywhere in the world!' thanks to the (naturally Breton) app Stag. A true 2.0 evolution of the 'Armo-American' migration networks that formed a few centuries ago...

The association Breizh Amerika also participates in the dynamic of cultural and economic exchanges by supporting Breton startups in their first steps on the American market.