DASG Blog

Mìosachan nan Gàidheal: An t-Earrach (Pàirt 1)

Blessings of Spring upon us! I hope you are as happy as a mavis and ready for Spring as I am. As we looked at festivals, holy days and signs of weather to come - or changes in weather - in the Gaelic world in the blogs prior (“Mìosachan nan Gàidheal: An Geamhradh (Pàirt 1)”) we shall have a look at them that will appear in Spring, starting with the first month of Spring: February.

A’ Chiad Mhìos den Earrach/An Gearran/Mìos Crochadh nan Cliabh/Mìos Mharbh/Yn-Chied Vee jeh’n Arragh [February]

01/02 –Là Fhéill Brìdge (Earrach)/Laa’l Breeshey/Imbolc [St Briget's Day]
Although we use "Am Faoilleach" for the month of January it is from the middle of the month that "Am Faoilleach" starts, that runs until the middle of February. This is clear is the word “Na Faoilich” we have at DASG. "Na Faoilich" is a cold wind that endures between January and February. We have “fuaradh froise” as well around this same time.
There are many phrases and idioms connected to "Là Fèill Brìdge," the first day of February. The weather of this day is proven in the phrase –
“Nead air Brìde, Ubh air Inid, ’S mur bi sin aig an fhitheach Bithidh am bàs.” ["A nest by St Bride's, an egg by Shrovetide, If the crow doesn't have these they will die."]

In this phrase here it is expected that Shrovetide will occur on the fourteenth day. There is another saying connected to it; “Ugh air inid ’s eun air Càsg, mur bidh sin aig an fhitheach bidh am bàs.” ["An egg by shrovetide and an bird by Easter, if the crow doesn't have thi they will die."]

The phrase “Dinneir soillse latha latha Fhèill Brìde, ’s suipeir soillse latha latha Fhèill Pàdruig” ["Light at dinner-time on St Bride's- Day, and light at supper-time on St. Partick's Day"] showing the lengthening of the daylight hours between the two days after "Là nan Trì Suipearan" ["Winter Solstice"].

St. Bridget's Day is celebrated with interesting customs as well; in the days of yester-year women would make a bed with birch branches with the name “leaba bharraich” and “Brìde, Brìde thig a-staigh, tha do leaba dèante” [“Bridet, Bridget come inside, your bed is made”] would be said for St. Bridget to spend the night with them. They have the same folklore in Man as well, were “Brede, Brede, tar gys my thie, tar dysthie ayms noght. Foshil jee an dorrys da Brede, as lhieg da Brede cheet stiagh,” [“Bridget, Bridget, come to my house, come inside this night. Open the door to Bridget, and let to Bridget to come inside,”] is said  on St. Bridget's Night (“Oie’l Breeshey.”)

Here is a list of phrases and idioms that they have in Man about St. Bridget's Day:

• “Laa’l Breeshey bane, Dy chooiley yeeig lane.” [“Bridget’s Feast-day white, every ditch full.”]
• “Choud as hig y skell ny-gah-ghreinney stiagh Laa’l Breeshey, hig y sniaghtey roish Laa Boayldyn.” [“As long as the sunbeam comes in on Bridget’s Feast-day, the snow comes before May Day.”]

02/02 – Là Fhèill Moire nan Coinnlean/Là Coinnle/Laa’l Moirrey ny gianle [“Candlemas”].
“Laa’l Moirrey ny Gianle, Lhie foddyr as lhieh traagh” [“Mary’s Feast-day of the Candle, half straw and half hay”] is said in Man about the weather to come for the day itself.

03/02 – Là a’ Chuilein.

06/02 – Periwinkle Day/St Dorothy’s Day – This is celebrated in Man where cattle, sheep and livestock is taken to be sold on the beach, named “Pooyl-Vaaish,” at the same time one sells whelks!

15/02 - Oidhche Inid/Oie Ynnyd (This year) ["Shrovetide"] - Shrovetide's eve happens on the fifteenth this year.
There are accounts that a “Sollaghan” is had in Man in the morning with pancakes and meat in the afternoon. On top of this a “Bonnach sùith, Bonnach Inid” [“Sooty bannock, a Shrovetide bannock”] is made apparently and is is very similar to a custom they have in Man with the “Soddag Valloo.”

16/02 - We have Inid, Dimairt na h-Inide ["Shrove Tuesday"] on the sixteenth this year. It is said “A’ chiad Di-màirt den t-solas earraich” [“The first Tuesday of the light of Spring”] is this Tuesday.

“Inid Bheadaidh” ["shameless Tuesday"] is said as well because the day of Shrove is celebrated before the Eve of Shrovetide: “An Inid bheadaidh, thig an latha roimh’ ’n oidhche” [“The shameless Shrove, the day comes before the night.”]

“Seachd seachdainean geàrr goirid Eadar Inid is Càisg” [“Seven short, sharp weeks between Shrove and Easter”] is said showing time of Lent before us. As it is obvious to you the weather shall change over this time and this is shown in this phrase:
“Thuirt an Inid ris a’ Chàisg, ‘Càit am faigh mi àite cluich?’
‘Thoir thusa dhòmhsa pàilliun geamhraidh ’S togaidh mi taigh samhraidh dhuit.’”
[“Shrovetide said to Easter, ‘Where will I get a place to play myself?
‘Give to me a winter palace And I will build a summer house for you.’”]

They have a similar phrase in Man as well about this day -
“Ec shibber Oie Ynnyd my vees dty volg lane; My jig Laa Caisht yiow traisht son shen.”
[“At Shrove-Tuesday supper if thy belly be full; Before Easter-Day thou mayest fast (hunger) for that.”]

17/02 – Ash Wednesday – We have Diciadain na Luatha ["Ash Wednesday"] on the seventeenth this year, startng Lent as well.

24/02 – Laa’l-noo Mian.

We shall continue with part 2 next week. I must have some holy days and festivals missing that I haven't mentioned but do you know that I haven't mentioned? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!