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Fèilltean Albannach 

Scottish Festivals

There are different important festivals in every country and we can see some of the most important ones in Scotland below. 

Oidhche Challainn

Hogmanay

Oidhche Shamhna

Halloween

Là Buidhe Bealltainn

May Day

Oidhche na Taigeise

Burns Night

Là Fhèill Mìcheil

Saint Michael’s Day/Michaelmas

Là Fhèill Anndra(is)

Saint Andrew’s Day

Let’s complete our list of high days and holidays (special days) with some dates as well. 

Oidhche Challainn Hogmanay 31 Dùbhlachd 31mh (an) Dùbhlachd 
Oidhche Shamhna Halloween 31 Dàmhair 31mh (an) Dàmhair 
Là Buidhe Bealltainn May Day 01 Cèitean 1d (an) Cèitean 
Oidhche na Taigeise Burns Night 25 Faoilleach 25mh (am) Faoilleach 
Là Fhèill Mìcheil Saint Michael’s Day/Michaelmas 29 Sultain 29mh (an t–)Sultain 
Là Fhèill Anndra(is) Saint Andrew’s Day 30 Samhain 30mh (an t–)Samhain 
Là Fhèill Brìghde Saint Brigid’s Day 01 Gearran 1d (an) Gearran 
Là Fhèill Pàdraig Saint Patrick’s Day 17 Màrt 17mh (am) Màrt 
Là Fhèill Steafain Boxing Day/Feast of Saint Stephen 26 Dùbhlachd 26mh (an) Dùbhlachd 
Là na Bliadhna Ùire New Year’s Day 01 Faoilleach 1d (am) Faoilleach 
Là na Nollaige Christmas Day 25 Dùbhlachd 25mh (an) Dùbhlachd 
Là Naomh Bhaileintin Saint Valentine’s Day 14 Gearran 14mh (an) Gearran 

And don’t forget the most important festival in the Gaelic world: 

Am Mòd The Mod 3mh (an treasamh) seachdain san Dàmhair third week in October 

There are a few more options for writing dates. You can find a useful list of these, with examples, on the SQA website. 

Tobar an Dualchais 

Kist o’ Riches 

There is a tremendous amount of information on the Tobar an Dualchais website: www.tobarandualchais.co.uk. Here are examples of different customs for three important times of the year. 

Oidhche Shamhna 

Halloween 

Here is a little bit of information about customs at Halloween. The boys would recite this ditty when they were going round the houses. 

Èirich a bhean an taighe 

‘s thoir dhuinn am bonnag, 

‘s mura toir thu dhuinn am bonnag 

cha toir sinn urram ort tuilleadh! 

Àm na Càisge 

Easter(time) 

And here is some information about Easter customs. 

At one time ‘wild’ eggs would be sought after (hunted) at Easter time. 

It was said that the sun would dance on Easter (Sunday) morning. 

An Nollaig agus Oidhche Challainn/A’ Bhliadhn’ Ùr 

Christmas and New Year 

In Scotland New Year, Callainn or Oidhche na Bliadhn’ Ùire used to be more important than Christmas. But now, many of us keep Christmas. 

craobh Nollaige (f)

Christmas tree

bodach sneachda (m)

snowman

Bodach na Nollaige (m)

Santa Claus

cairt Nollaige (m)

Christmas card

duf na Nollaige (f)

Christmas pudding/dumpling