What is the Redadeg ?
That’s the spirit !
The Redadeg is a popular and festive relay race, non-competitive and open to all. Families, young and old, children, parents and grandparents run together. The idea is to carry the message in Breton across Brittany, without stopping and the big winner is the Breton language.
Thousands of people across the 5 Breton departments participate in the event with infectious enthusiasm.
Each kilometer of the race is sold to individuals, organisations, businesses and associations...i.e. any private individual or corporate body wishing to contribute to the event and give their support to the Breton language. The profits are redistributed among the selected projects which promote the use of Breton in daily social and family life.
The initial success of the event has grown over time, and the race distance as well as the amount of money collected have seen a continued increase.
Recap of previous Redadeg events :
- 2008 > Nantes/Carhaix 600 km > 50 000 €
- 2010 > Rennes/Pontivy 1200 km > 93 000 €
- 2012 > Brest/Douarnenez 1500 km > 121 000€
- 2014 > Morlaix/Glomel 1500 km > 125 000 €
- 2016 > Saint-Herblain/Lokoal-Mendon 1700 km > 124 000€
- 2018 > Quimper/Plouguerneau 1800 km > 134 000€
- 2020/2021 > Carhaix/Guingamp 2020 km > 130 000€ (Due to Covid)
- 2022 > Vitré/Vannes from 20 to 28 May 2022 >150 000€ (planned)
How it works
At each kilometer, the baton is passed to the next carrier wearing a t-shirt with their kilometer number on it. They run with the baton which contains a message in Breton. This message and its author are kept secret until the finish where the message is read on stage in front of the public and the celebrations then begin.
Besides purchasing kilometers, which gives you the right to carry the baton, taking part is completely open and free. Anyone can follow the baton carrier along the race, accompanying them, supporting them, and most importantly showing their support of the Breton language.
Award-winning from the start
The first Redadeg immediately generated large interest from the public and won two awards in 2008:
- Breton speaker of the year award organized by France 3 Bretagne
- Future of Breton Award discerned by the Conseil régional (county council) for it’s exemplary, innovative and useful action in favor of the language.
A great diversity of contributors
| Businesses | 11 % | (Small and medium businesses, artisans, independents, …) |
| Associations | 24 % | (culture, sport, media, education, ...) |
| Individuals | 33 % | (parents, grandparents, children) |
| Communities | 28 % | (town councils, county councils, regional authorities, ...) |
| Institutions | 4 % | (political parties, unions, work committees,...) |
Based on the model of the Basque Korrika
The Redadeg was inspired by the Basque Korrika relay race which exists since 1980 and now rallies hundreds of thousands of participants to cover over more than 2 000 kilometers across the North and South Basque country, during 10 days.
Since 2007, a Breton delegation has taken part. In 2019, like each time since 2013, more than 50 people made the trip to carry the baton on he Basque roads and demonstrate the Breton support of the Basque language, Euskara.
It’s also an opportunity for our organizers to find new ideas for the Redadeg and to take inspiration from the 30 years of (successful) Basque experience !
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