What is there in common between the ancient history of Estonians (more generally the Balto-Finnic peoples) and the Celts? The question may seem foolish as these nations are quite distant from one another in several respects (genetically, linguistically and geographically). However, with a little bit of effort, some common features in the history of these peoples can be found.

There are four 'corridors' in Northern Europe, along which the Indo-European languages have moved northwards. The corridors are similar in the sense that the territories of the Indo-European languages have expanded at the expense of other languages, mainly because the speakers of the original languages of northern areas have, in the process of language change, acquired an Indo- European language.
1) In the territory of what is currently Russia, the East Slavonic language spread to the Finno-Ugric language area mostly during the Slav expansion after the year 500 AC. Many Finno-Ugric language speaking nations (e.g. those speaking Merya, Meshcherian, Muromian, Mordvin, Mari and Udmurt) became speakers of Russian. In connection with the language change, the present Russian language was born, with a large substratum originating in the Finno-Ugric languages.
2) In the Baltic countries the Indo-European language first spread in the territory of today's Lithuania, and from there to Latvia. The speakers of Baltic-Finnic languages of the area, mainly of Estonian and Livonian, adopted the Baltic language. As a result, the present territory of Lithuania and then Latvia became linguistically Baltic, which in turn caused the emergence of Proto-Baltic and then Lithuanian and Latvian languages.
3) The Indo-European language of the farmers in the northern areas of Central Europe (including today's Denmark) spread northward to the Finno-Ugric language territories of the huntersfishermen. The result was the birth of Danish, the surrounding areas becoming Indo-European, and the emergence of the Proto- Germanic language.
4) In the western part of Central Europe (Western Germany and France today), the Indo-European language of the farmers spread to the area where people probably spoke the Basque language (or other non-Indo-European languages). This produced the Celtic language, more precisely the Continental Celtic.

On the basis of the above-mentioned, Continental Celtic can therefore be compared with Russian, the Baltic languages (Lithuanian and Latvian) and the Germanic languages - they are all 'new' Indo-European languages of Northern Europe, born because speakers of different languages learnt the common and complete northern European Indo-European language (Proto- Indo-European): in Russia the speakers of several Finno-Ugric languages, in the Baltic countries the speakers of Baltic-Finnic languages (ancient Estonian and Livonian), in Denmark and in the vicinity, the speakers of some western Finno-Ugric languages, and in Western Europe the speakers of Basque (or other languages). Later, some of the speakers of Continental Celtic moved to the British Isles. A new language change took place there when the original inhabitants of the British Isles (probably speakers of Basque, Finno-Ugric or Pict languages) began speaking Celtic. The result was Insular Celtic languages.
The British Isles witnessed a third language change when the speakers of Insular Celtic began, after about 450 AC, acquiring the Germanic language Anglo-Saxon. This was the foundation for the later English language. Language change from Insular Celtic to English is in fact underway, because Celtic is still spoken in the most western and northern parts of the British Isles.

So how can we compare and relate Estonian and Celtic languages and peoples? For thousands of years, both have participated in the same linguistic games of northern Europe, where the speakers of northern, i.e. more marginal, languages exchanged their languages for an Indo-European language.
The Estonian language and its speakers have always been on the side of 'losers' in the sense that many Estonian speakers have exchanged their language for an Indo-European one, mostly in the territory of today's Latvia.
Celtic and its speakers were initially on the side of 'winners', but later (AC) they became 'losers'. Speakers of Celtic were winners in western parts of Central Europe, when the speakers of Basque or some other non-Indo-European languages exchanged their language for an Indo-European one. Later, however, the Celtic speakers of the same area turned out to be losers when the speakers of Continental Celtic began exchanging their language for various Indo-European languages, and Continental Celtic vanished from Central Europe. Celtic and its speakers were initially the winners also in the British Isles when the old languages of the Isles disappeared and Celtic took over. After approximately 450 AC, Celtic lost out in the Isles when Anglo-Saxon took over and English began gradually taking shape.

Wiik, Kalevi: Eurooplaste juured. Ilmamaa, Tartu 2005.
Wiik, Kalevi: Suomalaisten juuret. Atenakustannus, Jyväskylä 2004. Sold out in bookshops, but a few copies at 30 euros available at lynne@pp.inet.fi. CD for 15 euros available at the same address.
Wiik, Kalevi: A New Atlas on the Origins and Early History of the Europeans. CD. Available at the same address. Price 15 euros.

Kalevi Wiik (1932), PhD, Finnish linguist, remarkable for his innovative approach to comparative linguistics, where he uses genetics in addition to the methods known in the traditional humanities.