Tag Archives: calendar
The Irish word for ‘October’ and other words related to ‘fómhar’ and ‘fómhair’ Posted by róislín on Oct 6, 2014
(le Róislín) In some previous blogs (naisc thíos), we’ve looked at the names of the months (míonna) and seasons (séasúir) in Irish, including a discussion specifically of “September” and “October.” So let’s try a little mixing and matching for review of “September,” “October,” and the Fall or Autumn season. Given the word “fómhar” and its…
Na Ceithre Shéasúr (The Four Seasons, in Gaeilge) Posted by róislín on Sep 30, 2012
(le Róislín) Before completely leaving an féilire, the subject of the last four blogs, let’s take a look at the Irish words for the four seasons. In addition, we’ll look at the adjectives pertaining to winter, spring, summer, and autumn/fall, both in their classy Latinate versions, like “(a)estival,” and in the more everyday tone, like…
Ag Tarraingt ar Oíche Shamhna (Halloween’s Coming!) Posted by róislín on Oct 15, 2011
(le Róislín) Halloween is, of course, a very Celtic topic, and you may be familiar with some of the basics of its role sa bhféilire Ceilteach. So in today’s blog, we’ll mostly focus on the phrase itself, its pronunciation and basic meaning. The word order of the Irish phrase is a reversal of the English. …
Samhain (November 1st) and Lá Caille (January 1st): Two New Years! Posted by róislín on Oct 27, 2010
(le Róislín) I suppose one could see this as an opportunity for two ways of celebrating the New Year. The traditional Celtic New Year was November 1st, recognized as Samhain [SOW-in] but not celebrated today as the official New Year. The January 1st version of New Year’s Day is Lá Caille (lit. day of Calends)…
Téarmaí Nollag: Nollaig Shona duit! Nollaig Shona daoibh! srl. Posted by róislín on Dec 24, 2009
(le Róislín) Here are some of the basic terms for this holiday season: Oíche Nollag, Christmas Eve, but Oíche Lá Nollag, the night of Christmas Day An Nollaig, Christmas (note the use of the definite article, “the” Christmas) Lá Nollag, Christmas Day Nóta 1: Irish doesn’t really have a separate word for “eve” to distinguish “the…
An Chéad Lá den Earrach (The First Day of Spring) – Not! Posted by róislín on Mar 21, 2009
(le Róislín) Shortly after St. Patrick’s Day, we welcome in an tEarrach (the Spring). Or do we? We may be accustomed to thinking of March 20th or 21st as the beginning of Spring, but there is actually a lot of controversy in English as to whether Spring starts on the first of the month or…