{"id":2137,"date":"2012-04-04T18:12:22","date_gmt":"2012-04-04T18:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=2137"},"modified":"2012-04-08T18:37:17","modified_gmt":"2012-04-08T18:37:17","slug":"laethanta-na-seachtaine-laethanta-aimsir-na-casca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/laethanta-na-seachtaine-laethanta-aimsir-na-casca\/","title":{"rendered":"Laethanta na Seachtaine, Laethanta Aimsir na C\u00e1sca"},"content":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stretching from C\u00e9adaoin an Spiaire<\/strong> to M\u00e1irt Ch\u00e1sca<\/strong>, there are enough special days surrounding Easter to give a specific Irish name for each day of the week.\u00a0 Since there are already several forms for each day, aside from Easter usage, let\u2019s look at them grouped together in a chart.\u00a0 That will enable us to focus on changes like initial mutation (s\u00e9imhi\u00fa, ur\u00fa<\/strong>), h-prefixation, and endings (an tuiseal ginideach<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

Even for ordinary purposes, each day has at least two forms, one for the day as a subject or concept (like \u201cAn Luan<\/strong>,\u201d Monday, lit. \u201cthe\u201d Monday) and one used to say when something is happening (like \u201cD\u00e9 Luain<\/strong>,\u201d lit. \u201con the day of\u201d Monday).<\/p>\n

This chart has four columns, the first one giving forms that would rarely occur on their own.\u00a0 For these, I have followed the linguistic practice of putting a r\u00e9ilt\u00edn<\/strong> in front of them.\u00a0 It\u2019s not that these forms are completely hypothetical (as we might find in historical linguistic reconstruction), it\u2019s just that they would almost always be part of a two-word phrase, sometimes an even longer phrase.\u00a0 From this \u201croot,\u201d we get the subject form (An Luan<\/strong>), and, by following genitive case rules, we get the preposition form (D\u00e9 Luain<\/strong>).\u00a0 Hmmm, you might ask, why genitive case (possessive) rules when using a preposition phrase?\u00a0 It\u2019s because \u201cD\u00e9<\/strong>,\u201d when preceding a day of the week, functions as a preposition but is really a noun.\u00a0 This \u201cD\u00e9<\/strong>\u201d comes from the word \u201cdia<\/strong>\u201d (note lower-case), which is an alternate word for \u201cday\u201d in Irish, now somewhat archaic, or, we could say, fossilized.\u00a0 This process is much like what happens with \u201ccois<\/strong>\u201d in the phrase \u201ccois na tine<\/strong>,\u201d where \u201ccois<\/strong>\u201d (from \u201ccos<\/strong>,\u201d foot, leg) is really a noun but functions like a preposition, resulting in the meaning \u201cby the fire\u201d (lit. \u201cat the foot of the fire\u201d).<\/p>\n

Some of the words in the chart will also be changed if they\u2019re in a prepositional phrase starting with \u201car an<\/strong>,\u201d as in \u201car an gC\u00e9adaoin<\/strong>\u201d (lit. on \u201cthe\u201d Wednesday).\u00a0 Ulster Irish will have lenition in these cases (Ch\u00e9adaoin<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Unlike \u201cl\u00e1<\/strong>,\u201d which seems to be unique in the Indo-European panorama of languages (except for Scottish Gaelic \u201clatha<\/em>\u201d and Manx \u201claa<\/em>\u201d), the word \u201cdia\u201d\/\u201dd\u00e9\u201d<\/strong> is<\/em> a cognate to other European words for \u201cday,\u201d such as \u201cdies<\/em>,\u201d \u201cdydd<\/em>,\u201d \u201ctag<\/em>,\u201d and even \u201cday\u201d itself (plus, less directly, \u201cjour<\/em>\u201d from Latin \u201cdiurnus<\/em>\u201d).\u00a0 So, somewhat unusually, the word \u201cl\u00e1<\/strong>\u201d isn\u2019t used in the names of the days of the week.\u00a0 But you probably noticed that already!<\/p>\n

The \u201cdia<\/strong>\u201d form of \u201cday\u201d also shows up in the old spellings of the Irish words for \u201ctoday\u201d and \u201cyesterday,\u201d which are \u201cindiu<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cind\u00e9<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s the chart.\u00a0 Hope you find it helpful.\u00a0 There are additional notes for three of the terms below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoot\u201d<\/td>\nSubject Form<\/td>\n\u201cD\u00e9<\/strong>\u201d Form (w \u201ctuiseal ginideach<\/strong>\u201d ending)<\/td>\n\u201car an<\/strong>\u201d Form<\/td>\nEaster Terms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Domhnach<\/td>\nAn Domhnach<\/td>\nD\u00e9 Domhnaigh<\/td>\nar an Domhnach<\/td>\nDomhnach C\u00e1sca<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Luan<\/td>\nAn Luan<\/td>\nD\u00e9 Luain<\/td>\nar an Luan<\/td>\nLuan C\u00e1sca<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*M\u00e1irt<\/td>\nAn Mh\u00e1irt<\/td>\nD\u00e9 M\u00e1irt<\/td>\nar an M\u00e1irt, alt., ar an Mh\u00e1irt (U)<\/td>\nM\u00e1irt Ch\u00e1sca (2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*C\u00e9adaoin<\/td>\nAn Ch\u00e9adaoin<\/td>\nD\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoin, or alt., D\u00e9 C\u00e9adaoine (U)<\/td>\nar an gC\u00e9adaoin, alt. ar an Ch\u00e9adaoin (U)<\/td>\nC\u00e9adaoin an Spiaire, (? C\u00e9adaoin Naofa) (3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*D\u00e9ardaoin<\/td>\nAn D\u00e9ardaoin<\/td>\nD\u00e9ardaoin (1)<\/td>\nar an D\u00e9ardaoin, ar D\u00e9ardaoin<\/td>\nD\u00e9ardaoin (na) Mand\u00e1la<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Aoine<\/td>\nAn Aoine<\/td>\nD\u00e9 hAoine (h-prefix)<\/td>\nar an Aoine<\/td>\nAoine an Ch\u00e9asta<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Satharn<\/td>\nAn Satharn<\/td>\nD\u00e9 Sathairn<\/td>\nar an Satharn, alt. ar an tSatharn (U)<\/td>\nSatharn C\u00e1sca<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1) Although it\u2019s not often explicitly stated, \u201cD\u00e9<\/strong>\u201d is not needed before \u201cD\u00e9ardaoin<\/strong>\u201d because it\u2019s already built into the word.\u00a0 Having said that, a recent Google search brought up about 300 hits for \u201cD\u00e9ardaoin<\/strong>\u201d with \u201cD\u00e9<\/strong>\u201d in front of it!\u00a0 Either the usage is changing, or these are all just slip-ups.\u00a0 Bhur mbar\u00falacha, a l\u00e9itheoir\u00ed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) \u00a0I noted last year (https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?s=Eastertide<\/a>) that I found no instances of \u201cM\u00e1irt Ch\u00e1sca<\/strong>\u201d being used online for \u201cEaster Tuesday,\u201d but, interestingly, this year I found three hits.\u00a0 The three are duplicates (sigh!) and all refer to the founding of the Kilkenny branch of the Gaelic League in 1897.\u00a0 However else the phrase may be used or not used, it\u2019s interesting to note this designation as opposed to just saying \u201cApril 20th<\/sup>,\u201d which was the date of Easter Tuesday in 1897, if http:\/\/www.easterbunny.com\/date-of-easter\/easter-date-for-1897.html<\/a> serves me right.\u00a0 Go raibh maith agat, a Choin\u00edn C\u00e1sca!\u00a0 An ceann ponc com, <\/strong>that is!<\/p>\n

Of course, there is a long-standing tradition in both Irish and British writing of dating certain events by referring to a holiday, instead of a date, as in the r\u00e9amhr\u00e1ite<\/strong> of \u201cAn Fear Eagair<\/strong>,\u201d in Myles na gCopaleen\u2019s parody An B\u00e9al Bocht<\/em> being written on \u201cL\u00e1 an Gh\u00e1tair<\/strong>\u201d [Day of Distress] and \u201cL\u00e1 an Luain<\/strong>\u201d [Day of Doom].\u00a0 Or, more straightforwardly, the preface to C. S. Lewis\u2019s That Hideous Strength<\/em>, dated \u201cChristmas Eve, 1943.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s not a practice I\u2019ve seen used much in American literature.<\/p>\n

As for the general significance of Easter Tuesday, as noted last year, I still see it listed as a public holiday in just one place, An Tasm\u00e1in.\u00a0 <\/strong>There it is described as <\/strong>a \u201crestricted public holiday currently observed by certain awards\/agreements and the State Public Service (http:\/\/www.wst.tas.gov.au\/employment_info\/public_holidays<\/a>).\u00a0 Suimi\u00fail<\/strong>!\u00a0 A New Zealand site (http:\/\/www.principalskit.org.nz\/support-staff\/<\/a>) discusses Easter Tuesday as a potential holiday for employees of New Zealand Educational Institute, but they must have served 10 years and they must incorporate it into their annual leave.\u00a0 I don\u2019t quite get that last bit, but I guess it doesn\u2019t really matter.\u00a0 Suffice it to say that Easter Tuesday may have greater recognition elsewhere than seems apparent in 21st<\/sup>-century America.\u00a0 Many American school districts simply make their Spring Break surround Easter and avoid all discussion as to whether the break has anything to do with Easter at all.<\/p>\n

3) \u00a0There are plenty of references to the Wednesday before Easter being called \u201cC\u00e9adaoin an Spiaire<\/strong>\u201d (Wednesday of the Spy) in Irish, but for \u201cC\u00e9adaoin Naofa<\/strong>\u201d (the presumed form for \u201cHoly Wednesday\u201d), my search online turned up one questionable reference (in a very mixed-up hybrid site) and in dictionaries I found nothing.\u00a0 As I understand it, the term \u201cSpy Wednesday\u201d has been changed to \u201cHoly Wednesday,\u201d but I simply don\u2019t find much evidence of this usage in Irish and I also can\u2019t find an exact year for the change.\u00a0 Vatican II? \u00a0If it were that long ago, I\u2019d expect to find more evidence of \u201cC\u00e9adaoin Naofa<\/strong>\u201d online.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019m just barking up the wrong tree, but between Google searches, online dictionaries and hard-copy dictionaries, I usually find some evidence of what I\u2019m looking for, vocabulary-wise.\u00a0 Of course, I always try to build on what I\u2019ve heard and read in everyday usage for years, but I do like to check these sources for more specific information.\u00a0 Btw, I also found nothing under the old spelling, which would be \u201cC\u00e9adaoin Naomhtha<\/strong>,\u201d but of course, the formal date of the change, assuming there is one, might preclude that.\u00a0 Hmmm.\u00a0 Lenited and eclipsed versions of the above?\u00a0 Amas ar bith!<\/strong>\u00a0 (No hits) and no luck in dictionaries.\u00a0 Sin sin go dt\u00ed an bhliain seo chugainn, is d\u00f3cha.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And, last but not least, a bit of Google-based trivia that some of you may find amusing as I did.\u00a0 When I tried searching for \u201cM\u00e1irt Ch\u00e1sca<\/strong>\u201d without comhartha\u00ed athfhriotail <\/strong>and without s\u00ednte fada<\/strong>, the first hit (of 7,360,000!) that came up was for the K-Mart<\/em> in Chaska<\/em>, Minnesota.\u00a0 Wonders never cease!\u00a0 On that bemused note, SGF, R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S. Anyone still wondering about the phrase \u201cAimsir na C\u00e1sca\u201d? \u00a0<\/strong>Why “weather”?\u00a0 Answer: here it\u2019s not “weather.” \u00a0\u201cAimsir<\/strong>\u201d can mean \u201ctime,\u201d \u201ctense,\u201d or \u201ctide\u201d in the sense of \u201ctime.\u201d\u00a0 So \u201cAimsir na C\u00e1sca\u201d<\/strong> is \u201cEastertide.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) Stretching from C\u00e9adaoin an Spiaire to M\u00e1irt Ch\u00e1sca, there are enough special days surrounding Easter to give a specific Irish name for each day of the week.\u00a0 Since there are already several forms for each day, aside from Easter usage, let\u2019s look at them grouped together in a chart.\u00a0 That will enable us…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[207490,3090,4018,207494,111133,207488,4525,4571,111132,207472,4644,4655,2701,207487,207483,207482,3706,207476,111128,3167,7385,207474,207486,207477,207491,11603,207481,207484,207478,5667,207492,207493,207475,111131,207473,207480,207479,11604,111134,3433,207489,207495,9722],"class_list":["post-2137","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-207490","tag-adverbial","tag-aimsir","tag-an-beal-bocht","tag-aoine","tag-c-s-lewis","tag-caisc","tag-casca","tag-ceadaoin","tag-ceadaoin-an-spiaire","tag-chaisc","tag-chasca","tag-christmas-eve","tag-conradh-na-gaeilge","tag-cross","tag-crucifixion","tag-days-of-the-week","tag-deardaoin","tag-domhnach","tag-easter","tag-easter-monday","tag-easter-sunday","tag-easter-tuesday","tag-eastertide","tag-fear-eagair","tag-flann-obrien","tag-good-friday","tag-holy-saturday","tag-holy-thursday","tag-irish","tag-la-an-ghatair","tag-la-an-luain","tag-luan","tag-mairt","tag-mairt-chasca","tag-mandate","tag-maundy-thursday","tag-myles-na-gcopaleen","tag-satharn","tag-subject","tag-that-hideous-strength","tag-the-poor-mouth","tag-week"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2137"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2141,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions\/2141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}