Tag Archives: Christmas
The Irish Twelve Days of Christmas Redux Redux with a Blogliography of Other Blogs on the Song Posted by róislín on Dec 25, 2015
(le Róislín) First, you’re probably wondering why the “redux redux.” That’s because we’ve looked at all the verses of this song quite thoroughly over the last few years. Féach an blagliosta (blogliography) thíos. And we’ve already had one recap (18 Mí na Nollag 2013), so this is now the second recap (reredux?). In the first…
Men and Christmas, specifically, ‘Fir Shneachta’ and ‘Fir Shinséir’ Posted by róislín on Dec 13, 2015
(le Róislín) OK, so this isn’t really going to be a Men-Are-from-Mars-Women-Are-from-Venus-y exposé of the relationship between men and women around Christmastime. So we won’t be dealing with “man caves” (*fearuaimheanna, is dócha) or oidhreacht an uaimhigh i sochaí an lae inniu. Instead, we’ll simply look at the Irish words for “snowmen” and “gingerbread men,”…
‘-aig” ag Nollaig nó ‘-ag’ ag ‘Nollag’? (When to say “Nollaig” and when to say “Nollag” for the Irish word for ‘Christmas’) Posted by róislín on Dec 11, 2015
(le Róislín) It’s that time of year again, and while the Christmas season may make us feel “holly jolly” and “berry merry,” but we might not always feel that way when confronted with the decision of “tuiseal ginideach” or not “tuiseal ginideach.” And what’s the “tuiseal ginideach,” anyway? It’s the form of the word used…
How to Say ‘Happy New Year’ in Irish and How to Pronounce the Consonant Cluster “thbhl” Posted by róislín on Dec 31, 2014
(le Róislín) Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit. Happy New Year to you. Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh. Happy New Year to you (plural). So how do we pronounce that, what does it literally mean, why are the actual words “happy” and “new” not in the phrase, and where does a consonant…
Speaking of Christmas in Irish — Does It End with ‘-ig,’ ‘-ag,’ or “igí”? Posted by róislín on Dec 6, 2014
(le Róislín) OK, admittedly, we’re not going to use the last choice (‘-igí [IG-ee]) all that often. But I added it to today’s discussion for two reasons. One is for a sense of completion. If we’re going to say “Christmas” (An Nollaig) and “of Christmas” (na Nollag), we might as well be prepared to use…
‘Sona’ or ‘Shona’ for ‘Happy Christmas’ (Merry Christmas) in Irish? Posted by róislín on Dec 1, 2014
(le Róislín) As we transition from Lá Altaithe (i Meiriceá) to Aoine Dhubh to Satharn na nGnóthas Beag to Cibearluan, and now, most recently, Máirt na Carthanachta, we’re now ready to look at another set of holiday terms, such as “Oíche Nollag” and “An Nollaig.” And right along with that, we have the greeting, “Nollaig…
Dreoilíní, Boscaí, agus Dea-thoil (26 Mí na Nollag 2013) Posted by róislín on Dec 26, 2013
(le Róislín) So what do “wrens,” “boxes,” and “goodwill” have in common? All pertain in one way or another to a day celebrated as a holiday under various names in Ireland, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and some Commonwealth countries. An 26ú lá de mhí na Nollag atá i gceist. For the benefit…