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Tag Archives: May Day

More Month-of-May Motifs (i nGaeilge, ar ndóigh) Posted by on Apr 27, 2014

(le Róislín) Is it the “merry month” of May or the “merry, merry month” of May?  Is it “meidhreach” or “sona,” “croíúil” or “súgach?  Or is it as in the traditional Irish phrase, “buí” (Mí Bhuí na Bealtaine)?  We looked at all of those terms in the last blog (nasc thíos) but here’s a quick…

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Féilte Mhí na Bealtaine (May Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day) Posted by 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…

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Between a Rock and a … May Day Fire? (or Life on the Horns of a Dilemma — as Gaeilge) Posted by on May 1, 2012

(le Róislín) Amongst the numerous phrases in English for being, essentially, stuck between two difficult choices, we have “between Scylla and Charybdis,” “between the devil and the deep blue sea,” and, perhaps most widely used of all, “between a rock and a hard place.”  Irish, natch, has its equivalents.  One is, fairly straightforwardly, “rogha an…

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Mayday! May Day! Bealtaine! Posted by 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. …

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May Day, Mayflies, Mayweed Posted by on May 1, 2010

Last year at this time we discussed the various forms of the Gaelic word for May,  Bealtaine in Irish, Bealtuinn in Scottish Gaelic, and Boaldyn in Manx Gaelic.  May 1st (Lá Bealtaine) is traditionally the first day of summer in the Celtic calendar. Here are a few other Irish terms containing the word “Bealtaine.” 1…

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