Tag Archives: Lá Bealtaine
Merry, Month, May, and How to Say It All in Irish Posted by róislín on Apr 24, 2014
(le Róislín) As we approach Lá Bealtaine and mí na Bealtaine, it seems a good time to break apart the time-worn phrase “merry, merry month of May,” and see how these words appear in Irish. So we’ve got at least four words for “merry” plus a curious use of “buí,” one basic word for “month”…
Féilte Mhí na Bealtaine (May Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day) Posted by róislín on May 1, 2013
(le Róislín) There are three main holidays associated with mí na Bealtaine in the United States: Lá Bealtaine (1ú Bealtaine), Lá na Máithreacha (12ú Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013), agus Lá Cuimhneacháin (Luan deireanach na Bealtaine, 27ú Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013). Of course, in every month there are also many days of special recognition that are…
Níos Mó Meaitseála: Míonna agus Féilte Posted by róislín on Sep 18, 2011
(le Róislín) How many topics the basic idea of “an féilire” can generate! Here are the months again, once again, this time with holidays to match. The new hitch? I’ve deliberately left off the first letter (or sometimes the first two letters) of the months as a memory-jogger. As usual, you’ll find na freagraí below…
Mayday! May Day! Bealtaine! Posted by róislín on May 1, 2011
(le Róislín) Bhuel, not exactly! “Mayday” as an emergency call comes from the French “(Venez) m’aider” (Come help me!)* and the Irish for “mayday” as an SOS remains “mayday,” so we have “córas mayday” (a mayday system) for sailing, etc. In fact, “SOS” also remains exactly the same in Irish, as an internationally understood abbreviation. …
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)…
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…