{"id":3976,"date":"2013-05-01T14:37:35","date_gmt":"2013-05-01T14:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=3976"},"modified":"2013-05-12T23:25:07","modified_gmt":"2013-05-12T23:25:07","slug":"feilte-mhi-na-bealtaine-may-day-mothers-day-memorial-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/feilte-mhi-na-bealtaine-may-day-mothers-day-memorial-day\/","title":{"rendered":"F\u00e9ilte Mh\u00ed na Bealtaine (May Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

There are three main holidays associated with m\u00ed na Bealtaine<\/strong> in the United States: L\u00e1 Bealtaine (1\u00fa Bealtaine), L\u00e1 na M\u00e1ithreacha (12\u00fa Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013), agus L\u00e1 Cuimhneach\u00e1in (Luan deireanach na Bealtaine, 27\u00fa Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013)<\/strong>.\u00a0 Of course, in every month there are also many days of special recognition that are not considered holidays as such.\u00a0 These range from (and here follow my own Irish translations, since I find no other record of them i nGaeilge<\/strong>) L\u00e1 N\u00e1isi\u00fanta na M\u00fainteoir\u00ed (D\u00e9 M\u00e1irt sa ch\u00e9ad seachtain l\u00e1n i m\u00ed na Bealtaine, 7\u00fa Bealtaine i 2013)<\/strong> to L\u00e1 N\u00e1isi\u00fanta … creid n\u00f3 n\u00e1 creid \u00e9 … Craiceann Or\u00e1iste Criostalaithe (4\u00fa Bealtaine).<\/strong><\/p>\n

In this blog, we’ll look briefly at the three main holidays.\u00a0 As the month unfolds, perhaps we’ll take a look at c\u00fapla ceili\u00faradh eile <\/strong>that are neamhchoitianta<\/strong>, like “National Orange Peel Day.” \u00a0For those interested in fuller details for each of the major holidays, there are iarbhlaganna<\/strong> which discuss them (liost\u00e1ilte th\u00edos<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

L\u00e1 Bealtaine, O\u00edche Bhealtaine (1 Bealtaine)<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Bealtaine<\/strong>” [BAL-tin-yuh] is a fairly straightforward word in Irish, since it has no separate ending to show possession and since we rarely need to discuss it in the plural.\u00a0 Probably the most significant change to note for it is that after the word “o\u00edche<\/strong>” (eve, night), it becomes “Bhealtaine<\/strong>” [VAL-tin-yuh].<\/p>\n

Why does “Bealtaine<\/strong>” become “Bhealtaine<\/strong>” after “o\u00edche”<\/strong>?\u00a0 Because in the phrase “O\u00edche Bhealtaine<\/strong>,” we’re dealing with a feminine noun (o\u00edche)<\/strong>. \u00a0“L\u00e1,<\/strong>” on the other hand is a masculine noun, so “Bealtaine<\/strong>” remains the same.\u00a0 In both cases the word “Bealtaine<\/strong>” is functioning as an adjective, so it follows the pattern for adjectives modifying nouns. \u00a0For feminine singular nouns \u00a0that is “lenition” (softening), here with “b” becoming “bh.” \u00a0Similarly, we say “O\u00edche mhaith<\/strong>!” (Good night!) but “l\u00e1 maith<\/strong>” (a good day).\u00a0 Note that “good day,” is not typically used as a greeting in Irish.\u00a0 It usually refers to weather, but could also be used by Irish-speaking Klingons (why not!) exhorting each other to fight valiantly in battle, unto death (Tliong\u00e1inis<\/strong>: Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam<\/a><\/em>\u00a0\/ B\u00e9arla<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/tt>Today is a good day to die! \/ Gaeilge<\/strong>: “Inniu l\u00e1 maith le b\u00e1s a fh\u00e1il,<\/strong>“<\/em>\u00a0a fairly literal equivalent).<\/p>\n

L\u00e1 na M\u00e1ithreacha<\/strong> (12 Bealtaine, 2013)<\/strong><\/p>\n

We’ve recently discussed the word “m\u00e1thair<\/strong>” as a kinship term and as a prime example of Indo-European connections, with cognates all over the map.\u00a0 As for creating the Irish term for Mother’s Day, the general consensus is that it should be plural, “the day of the mothers.”\u00a0 So that gives us “m\u00e1ithreacha<\/strong>” [MAW-hrzuh-khuh}.\u00a0 You will also find forms of “Mother’s Day” in Irish using the singular (“of the mother”) though, at least a few online.\u00a0 That would be “L\u00e1 na M\u00e1thar<\/strong>.”\u00a0 Note that irregular possessive form, “m\u00e1thar<\/strong>,” with the “i” dropped out.\u00a0 The good news is that “father” and “brother” follow the same pattern (athair \/ athar; dearth\u00e1ir \/ dearth\u00e1r<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

L\u00e1 Cuimhneach\u00e1in (i Meirice\u00e1; 27 Bealtaine 2013)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once again, we have a “day of” structure, not an “(adjective) day” structure, i.e. “day of memorial,” not “memorial day” as such.\u00a0 “Cuimhneach\u00e1n<\/strong>” means “memorial,” “commemoration,” or “remembrance.”\u00a0\u00a0 Here the “i” is added just before the final “n” to show that the word means “of<\/em> memorial.”\u00a0\u00a0 Remember, there is no real equivalent in Irish to the English possessive “of.”\u00a0 Possession is generally shown by a change to the ending of a word, as in Latin or German, and sometimes there is a change to the beginning of the word.\u00a0 The mionruda\u00ed<\/strong> for that would be \u00e1bhar blag eile<\/strong>, but some quick samples are “c\u00f3ta Sh\u00e9amais<\/strong>” [KOH-tuh HAY-mish] for “coat of S\u00e9amas<\/strong>” and “\u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in<\/strong>” for “mansion of the Uachtar\u00e1n<\/strong> \/ President.”<\/p>\n

“Cuimhneach\u00e1n<\/strong>” is related to “cuimhin<\/strong>” (“memory,” but rarely translated literally), which is used to say you remember something, such as:<\/p>\n

Is cuimhin liom mo ch\u00e9ad l\u00e1 ar scoil.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

T\u00e1 br\u00f3n orm ach n\u00ed cuimhin liom d’ainm.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

So that’s a “sampl\u00f3ir<\/strong>,” anyway, of a few of the “laethanta speisialta<\/strong>” that occur i m\u00ed na Bealtaine<\/strong>.\u00a0 Can any of you think of some other interesting or unusual ones?\u00a0 If so, please write in.\u00a0 SGF, R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Liosta Iarbhlaganna ar na h\u00c1bhair Seo:<\/strong><\/p>\n

L\u00e1 Bealtaine: <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/between-a-rock-and-a-may-day-fire-or-life-on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma-as-gaeilge\/<\/a> (1 Bealtaine 2012)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/mayday-may-day-bealtaine\/<\/a> (1 Bealtaine 2011)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/may-day-mayflies-mayweed\/<\/a> (1 Bealtaine 2010)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/bealtaine-beltain-beltene-or-beltane-for-may-1st-yes-ba%E2%80%99al-tine-%E2%80%93-not\/<\/a>(1 Bealtaine 2009)<\/p>\n

L\u00e1 na M\u00e1ithreacha: <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/an-mhathair-no-an-la-ce-acu-ata-sona\/<\/a> (8 Bealtaine 2011)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/la-na-maithreacha-mother%E2%80%99s-day\/<\/a> (7 Bealtaine 2010)<\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/la-na-maithreacha-vs-la-na-mathar-%E2%80%9Cday-of-the-mothers%E2%80%9D-or-%E2%80%9Cof-the-mother%E2%80%9D\/<\/a> (10 Bealtaine 2009)<\/p>\n

L\u00e1 Cuimhneach\u00e1in: <\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/la-cuimhneachain-i-meiricea\/<\/a> (31 Bealtaine 2010)<\/p>\n

Gluais: craiceann<\/strong>, peel; creid<\/strong>, believe; criostalaithe<\/strong>, candied, crystallized; cuimhneach\u00e1n<\/strong>, memorial; neamhchoitianta<\/strong>, uncommon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) There are three main holidays associated with m\u00ed na Bealtaine in the United States: L\u00e1 Bealtaine (1\u00fa Bealtaine), L\u00e1 na M\u00e1ithreacha (12\u00fa Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013), agus L\u00e1 Cuimhneach\u00e1in (Luan deireanach na Bealtaine, 27\u00fa Bealtaine sa bhliain 2013).\u00a0 Of course, in every month there are also many days of special recognition that are…<\/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":[3898],"tags":[288587,5804,9186,5810,3295,9185,289596,6087,6148],"class_list":["post-3976","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-bhealtaine","tag-la-bealtaine","tag-la-cuimhneachain","tag-la-na-maithreacha","tag-may-day","tag-memorial-day","tag-mhi-na-bealtaine","tag-mi-na-bealtaine","tag-mothers-day"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t