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The Irish Calendar
The Irish calendar does not observe the typical astronomical seasons (beginning, in the Northern Hemisphere, on the equinoxes and solstices), or the meteorological seasons (beginning on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1), but rather centres the seasons around the solstices and equinoxes (so that, for instance, midsummer falls on the summer solstice), beginning the seasons at the approximate halfway points between solstice and equinox, following the seasons of the ancient Celts which are pre-Christian in origin. This Celtic origin is particularly evident in the Irish naming of many of the months: some names, like May (Bealtaine), August (Lughnasadh/Lúnasa) and November (Samhain) were the names of pagan Celtic festivals. In addition, the names for September and October (Meán Fómhair and Deireadh Fómhair respectively) translate directly as "middle of autumn" and "end of autumn". Christianity has also left its mark on the Irish months: December is Nollaig, a word also meaning Christmastide.
Seasons
Winter - An Geimhreadh (November, December, January)
November - Samhain / Mí na Samhna
December - Nollaig
January - Eanáir
Spring - An tEarrach (February, March and April)
February - Feabhra
March - Márta (St. Patrick's Day)
April - Aibreán
Summer - An Samhradh (May, June and July)
May - Bealtaine
June - Meitheamh
July - Iúil
Autumn - An Fómhar (August, September and October)
August - Lúnasa
September - Meán Fómhair/Meadhon Fóghmhair
October - Deireadh Fómhair
Calendar terms in Irish
Days of the week - Laethanta na Seachtaine
Seasons of the year - Ráithí na Bliana/Na Séasúir
Religious seasons - Séasúir Creidimh
Holidays and holy days - Féilte na Bliana
Movable feasts - Na Féilte Reatha
Happy Imbolc - February 2nd
Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Celtic calendar, celebrated at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring. Most commonly it is celebrated on February 2nd, since this is the cross-quarter day on the solar calendar, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere. Originally dedicated to the Goddess of Poetry, Brigid, in the Christian period it was adopted as St Brigis's Day. In Ireland (Eire) the festival is also known as Lá Fhéile Bríde.
Fire and purification are an important aspect of this festival. Brigid (also known as Brighid, Bríde, Brigit, Brìd) is the Goddess of Poetry, healing and smithcraft. As both goddess and saint she is also associated with holy wells, sacred flames, and healing. The lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months.
Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather predictions, and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to the Groundhog Day.