Gaelic calendar

The Irish calendar is the Gregorian calendar as it is in use in Ireland, but also incorporating Irish cultural festivals and views of the division of the seasons, presumably inherited from earlier Celtic calendar traditions.

Not to be confused with Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland.

For example, the pre-Christian Celtic year began on 1 November, although in common with the rest of the Western world, it now begins on 1 January.[1]. The idea that the Celtic calendar had a New Year is anachronistic; instead, the calendar can be seen to begin with Spring on St. Brigid's Day or pre-Christian Imbolc, when the year emerges from the dark half, and begins to Spring into the light half around February first. The orientation on Halloween was imposed by later interpreters. The Gaelic calendar begins with the seeding season and the rituals associated with the goddess Bride.

  • Winter ("Geimhreadh") - November, December, January (Samhain, Nollaig, Eanáir)
  • Spring ("Earrach") - February, March, April (Imbolc, then Feabhra, Márta, Aibreán)
  • Summer ("Samhradh") - May, June, July (Bealtaine, Meitheamh, Iúil)
  • Autumn ("Fómhar" Harvest) - August, September, October (Lúnasa, Meán Fómhair, Deireadh Fómhair)

In English-language Julian calendars and its derivatives, the months are based on names from Classical mythology, such as the name "February" which derives from the Roman purification rite, Februa. In the Irish calendar, the names of the months in the Irish language refer to Celtic religion and mythology, and generally predate the arrival of Christianity. The words for May (Bealtaine), August (Lúnasa) and November (Samhain), are the names of Gaelic religious festivals. In addition, the names for September (Meán Fómhair) and October (Deireadh Fómhair) translate directly as "middle of harvest" and "end of harvest". Christianity has also left its mark on the Irish months: the name for December (Nollaig) derives from Latin natalicia (birthday), referring to the birth of Christ.[2]

Historical texts suggest that, during Ireland's Gaelic era, the day began and ended at sunset.[3] Through contact with the Romans, the seven-day week was borrowed by continental Celts, and then spread to the people of Ireland.[3] In Irish, four days of the week have names derived from Latin, while the other three relate to the fasting done by early Gaelic Christians.[4]

  • Dé Luain - from Latin dies Lunae
  • Dé Máirt - from Latin dies Martis
  • Dé Céadaoin - referring to Gaelic fasting: from céad (first) aoin (fast) i.e. the first fast of the week
  • Déardaoin - the day between the fasts
  • Dé hAoine - the day of the fast
  • Dé Sathairn - from Latin dies Saturni
  • Dé Domhnaigh - from Latin dies Dominicus (an alternative Latin name for Sunday, dies Solis being more common)

See also

References
  1. See Nora Chadwick, The Celts (1970) p.181
  2. Wiktionary.com
  3. Koch, John T. Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO (2006). Page 330.
  4. Koch, John T. Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO (2006). Page 331.
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