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 centers 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 (see below) 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, sometimes also in the form of Mí na Samhna) 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 Mí na Nollag, or just Nollaig, the latter word also meaning Christmastide.

Contents

Seasons

Winter (end)

January - Eanáir

Spring

(February, March and April)

February - Feabhra

March - Márta

The last days of March and the first three days of April are known as The Old Cows Days/The Days of the Brindled Cow or, in the Irish language, Laethanta na mBó Riabhaigh.

April - Aibreán

Summer

(May, June and July)

May - Bealtaine

The first Monday in May is a public holiday.

June - Meitheamh

The first Monday in June is a public holiday.

July - Iúil

Autumn

(August, September and October)

August - Lúnasa

The first Monday in August is a public holiday.

September - Meán Fómhair

October - Deireadh Fómhair

The last Monday in October is a public holiday.

Winter (start)

(November, December and January see above)

November - Samhain / Mí na Samhna

December - Nollaig / Mí na Nollag'

Calendar terms in Irish language

Days of the week - Laethanta na Seachtaine

  • Monday: Dé Luain
  • Tuesday: Dé Máirt
  • Wednesday: Dé Céadaoin
  • Thursday: Déardaoin
  • Friday: Dé hAoine
  • Saturday: Dé Satharn
  • Sunday: Dé Domhnaigh.

Seasons of the year - Ráithí na Bliana/Na Séasúir

  • Spring: An tEarrach - Spring/Vernal Equinox: Lá Leathach an Earraigh
  • Summer: An Samhradh - Summer Solstice: Grianstad an tSamhraidh
  • Autumn: An Fómhar - Autumnal Equinox: Lá Leathach an Fhómhair
  • Winter: An Gheimhreadh - Winter Solstice: Grianstad an Gheimhridh

Religious seasons - Séasúir Creidimh

  • Lent: An Carghas
  • Easter: Cáisc
  • Advent: An Aidbhint
  • Christmastide: Nollaig
  • Quarter Tense: Laethanta na gCeithre Thráth

Holidays and holydays - Féilte na Bliana

  • Holiday: Lá Saoire
  • Public Holiday: Saoire Poiblí
  • Church Holyday: Lá Saoire Eaglaise
  • New Year's Eve: Oíche Chinn Bhliana
  • New Year's Day: Lá Caille
  • Twelfth Night: Oíche Chinn an Dá Lá Dhéag
  • Epiphany: Nollaig Bheag or Nollaig na mBan
  • St. Brigid's Day: Lá Fhéile Bríde or Lá Feabhra
  • St. Patrick's Day: Lá Fhéile Phádraig
  • April Fools Day: Lá na nAmadáin
  • Annunciation: Lá Fhéile Muire san Earrach or Lá Theachtaireacht an Aingil
  • May Day: Lá Bealtaine
  • Assumption: Lá Fhéile Muire san Fhómhar
  • Hallowe'en: Oíche Shamhna
  • 1 Nov: Lá Samhna
  • All Souls Day: Lá na Marbh
  • Immaculate Conception: Giniúint Mhuire gan Smál
  • Christmas Day: Lá Nollag
  • St. Stephen's Day: Lá Fhéile Stiofáin or Lá an Dreoilín

Movable feasts - Na Féilte Reatha

  • Advent: An Aidbhint
  • Shrove Tuesday: Máirt na hInide
  • Ash Wednesday: Céadaoin an Luaithrigh
  • Lent: An Carghas
  • Holy Week: Seachtain na Páise
  • Palm Sunday: Domhnach na Pailme or Domhnach na hImrime
  • Spy Wednesday: Céadaoin an Bhraith
  • Holy (Maundy) Thursday: Déardaoin Mandála
  • Good Friday: Aoine an Chéasta
  • Easter Sunday: Domhnach Cásca
  • Easter Monday: Luan Cásca
  • Ascension Thursday: Déardaoin Deascabhála
  • Corpus Christi: Déardaoin Chorp Chríost
  • Pentecost Sunday: Domhnach Cincíse
  • Whit Monday: Luan Cincíse
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