We have learned about many a fèill (festival, fair, market, holy day, feast) and deas–ghnàth (ceremony, ritual) in this course already.
In A2 Cuspair 3 we read about some of the important festivals that the old Gaels kept in the different seasons.
A big festival would be held each quarter of the year: Samhain, Imbolg, Bealltainn, and Lùnastal.
Bealltainn (Beltane, the first day of May) was the most important festival of these, as it marked the beginning of summer and the beginning of the light half of the year.
Listen to this recording.
Remember: you can change the speed in the settings.
There is a transcription available on the same page and further information on 13B Duilleag Obrach.
Remember: it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the whole piece! Tha thu a’ dèanamh fìor math—you’re doing really well! 😊
📕 And if you don’t understand any words, try looking them up in your dictionary or the LearnGaelic faclair. 📕
In this recording, Ruairidh MacIlleathain explains what would happen on Là na Bealltainn (the First of May).
faclairiche (m)
lexicographer
gual–fiodha (m)
charcoal
ughagan (m)
egg custard
cho dubh ri tòn poite
as black as the bottom of a pot
A bheil thusa eòlach air deas–ghnàthan a bhite a’ cumail air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, no anns an sgìre agad fhèin?
Are you aware of rituals (ceremonies) which would be held in the in the Gàidhealtachd, or in your own area?