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Tag Archives: Samhain

The Irish for Halloween and for November: Using Samhain, Samhna, Shamhna, srl. Posted by on Oct 31, 2018

(le Róislín) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain#/media/File:Snap-Apple_Night_globalphilosophy.PNG, Snap-Apple Night (1833), On the Festival of Hallow Eve, public domain, by Daniel Maclise, RA (25 Jan 1806, Cork–25 Apr 1870, Chelsea), inspired by a party he attended in Blarney, in 1832. Includes divination games with melted lead and roasted nuts. Lipéad Gaeilge le Róislín, 2018. Our Halloween topics in this blog series have…

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Glasra Oíche Shamhna (a Halloween vegetable), but what’s it called in Irish? Posted by on Oct 24, 2017

(le Róislín)  Cén glasra é sin sa phictiúr?  What vegetable is that in the picture?  To answer the questions in the graphic above: An cairéad é?   Ní hea, ní __________ é. An práta é?   Ní hea, ní __________ é. An biatas é?  Ní hea, ní __________ é. An svaeid é?  Ní hea, ní __________…

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To Be or To Wear: Which Irish Verb for Halloween Costumes (agus éadaí go ginearálta) Posted by on Oct 22, 2016

(le Róislín) The Irish language offers two main verbs for saying you are wearing an item of clothing.  One is the verb “to be,” combined with the word “on,” essentially saying “A hat is on me,” for “I am wearing a hat.”  The second is the verb “caith,” which can literally mean “wear,” but which…

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Arbhar Candaí agus Cúpla Cainíneach Cúláilte Gléasta i gcomhair Oíche Shamhna Posted by on Oct 17, 2016

(le Róislín) According to the National Retail Federation (nasc thíos), this year’s most popular pet costume for Halloween is a pumpkin (puimcín).  But the two dogs in this picture are sporting a different edible Halloween theme, arbhar candaí. As far as I know, arbhar candaí is only sold i Meiriceá Thuaidh.  If anyone is aware…

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Cultacha Banphrionsa vs. Cultacha Sárlaoich: Costume Wars — Princesses vs. Superheroes Posted by on Oct 11, 2016

(le Róislín) Every year around this time I like to check out the articles on the best-selling Halloween costumes (cultacha Oíche Shamhna sárdhíola).   Then it’s both fun and, hopefully, informative, to translate them into Irish.  Some of them, like “garda” or “comhraiceoir dóiteáin” may also prove to be useful words (focail úsáideacha) for everyday conversation…

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Téarmaí Oíche Shamhna: Cineálacha Cultacha (Halloween Terms: ‘Kinds of Costumes’ in Irish) Posted by on Oct 6, 2016

(le Róislín) By early October, the maisiúcháin and cultacha are already in full force sna siopaí.  Céard atá pleanáilte agatsa faoi choinne Oíche Shamhna? We’ve talked about cultacha (costumes) previously in this blog, but this would be a good time to review some of the traditional ones.  And to find out if you’ve got any…

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25 Chulaith Oíche Shamhna and how to say them in Irish Posted by on Oct 24, 2015

(le Róislín) The variety of Halloween costumes seems to grow greater and greater every year.  Here are 25 possibilities and a handful of phrases for questions like: 1) Will you be a werewolf this year?  An mbeidh tú i do chonriocht  i mbliana? 2) Were you ever a werewolf? (for Halloween, or otherwise)? An raibh…

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