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Wikipedia This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at Irish calendar. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with the Calendar Wikia, the text of Wikipedia is available under Creative Commons License. See Wikia:Licensing.


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) 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 - Samhain / Mí na Samhna[]

December - Nollaig[]

January - Eanáir[]

Spring - An tEarrach (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 - An Samhradh (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 - An Fómhar (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.

Calendar terms in Irish[]

Days of the week - Laethanta na Seachtaine[]

  • Monday: An Luain or Dé Luain - Latin Lunae, "of the Moon"
  • Tuesday: An Mháirt or Dé Máirt - Latin Martis, "of Mars"
  • Wednesday: An Chéadaoin or Dé Céadaoin - Old Irish, "first fasting"
  • Thursday: An Déardaoin or Déardaoin - Old Irish, "day between fastings"
  • Friday: An Aoine or Dé hAoine- Old Irish, "fasting"
  • Saturday: An Satharn or Dé Sathairn - Latin Saturni, "of Saturn"
  • Sunday: An Domhnach or Dé Domhnaigh- Latin Dominica, "of the Lord"

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 - Latin Quadragesima, "fortieth"
  • Easter: Cáisc - Latin Pascha (from Greek, from Aramaic, "passover")
  • Advent: An Aidbhint - Latin Adventus, "coming"
  • Christmastide: Nollaig - Latin Natalicia, "birthday celebration"
  • Quarter Tense: Laethanta na gCeithre Thráth, "the days of four times"

Holidays and holy days - Féilte na Bliana[]

  • Holiday: Lá Saoire
  • Public Holiday: Saoire Poiblí
  • Church Holyday: Lá Saoire Eaglaise
  • Michaelmas Term: Téarma na Féile Mhicíl
  • Hilary Term: Téarma na Féile Bríde
  • Trinity Term: Téarma na Trionóide
  • New Year's Eve: Oíche Chinn Bhliana
  • New Year's Day: Lá Caille
  • The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus: Ainmniú agus Timpeallghearradh Chríost
  • Twelfth Night: Oíche Chinn an Dá Lá Dhéag
  • Epiphany: Nollaig Bheag or Nollaig na mBan or An Eipifáine
  • The Epiphany or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles: An Taispeáint nó Nochtadh Chríost do na Gintlithe
  • The Baptism of Our Lord: Baiste ár dTiarna
  • The Conversion of Saint Paul: Tiontú Naomh Pól
  • St. Brigid's Day: Lá Fhéile Bríde or Lá Feabhra
  • The Presentation of Christ in the Temple: Toirbhirt Chríost sa Teampall
  • The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Glanadh na Maighdine Beannaithe Muire
  • Candlemas: Lá (Fhéile Muire) na gCoinneal
  • St. Patrick's Day: Lá Fhéile Phádraig
  • St. Joseph of Nazareth: Naomh Iosaef na Nasaire
  • April Fools Day: Lá na nAmadáin
  • St. John's Eve/Bonfire Night: Oíche Fhéile San Seáin
  • Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Lá Fhéile Muire san Earrach or Lá Theachtaireacht an Aingil or Sanas na Maighdine Beannaithe Muire or Lá Fhéile Muire na Sanaise
  • May Day: Lá Bealtaine
  • The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin: Cuairt na Maighdine Beannaithe
  • Assumption: Lá Fhéile Muire Mór (san Fhómhar)
  • The Transfiguration of Our Lord: Athrú Cló ár dTiarna
  • The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Breith na Maighdine Beannaithe Muire
  • St. Michael and all Angels: Naomh Michíl agus na hAingil uile
  • Hallowe'en: Oíche Shamhna
  • 1 Nov: Lá Samhna
  • All Souls Day: Lá na Marbh
  • Immaculate Conception: Giniúint Mhuire gan Smál
  • Christmas Eve: Oíche na Nollag
  • Christmas Day: Lá Nollag
  • St. Stephen's Day: Lá Fhéile Stiofáin or Lá an Dreoilín
  • Holy Innocents Day: Lá na Leanaí Neamhchiontacha
  • St Mark the Evangelist: Lá Fhéile Naomh Marcas Soiscéalaí
  • Sts. Philip and James, Apostles: Lá Fhéile Naomh Pilib agus Naomh Séamas, Aspail
  • St. Mathias: Lá Fhéile Naomh Maitias
  • St. Peter: Lá Fhéile Naomh Peadar
  • St. Thomas: Lá Fhéile Naomh Tomás
  • St. James the Apostle: Lá Fhéile Naomh Séamas Aspal
  • St. Bartholemew: Lá Fhéile Naomh Parthalán
  • St. Luke the Evangelist: Lá Fhéile Naomh Lúcás Soiscéalaí
  • St. Matthew the Evangelist: Lá Fhéile Naomh Matha Soiscéalaí
  • St. John the Evangelist: Lá Fhéile Naomh Eoin Soiscéalaí
  • St. Andrews Day: Lá Fhéile Naomh Aindreas
  • Sts. Simon and Jude: Lá Fhéile Naomh Siomón agus Naomh Iúd
  • St. Swithin's Day: Lá San Svaítín

Movable feasts - Na Féilte Reatha[]

  • Advent: An Aidbhint
  • Ember Days: Laethanta na Cátaoireach
  • Rogation Days: Laethanta na hAichiní
  • Days of Fast and Abstinence: Laethanta Troscaidh agus Tréanais
  • 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 [na hAithne]
  • Good Friday: Aoine an Chéasta
  • Holy Saturday: Oíche Cásca
  • 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
  • Trinity Sunday: 'Domhnach na Trionóide
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