Dia daoibh a chairde – Hello everyone

This is our 50th edition of Cúpla Focal ...

Tá Oíche Shamhna ag teacht. Halloween is coming soon!

Halloween – Oíche Shamhna

An t-aonú lá is tríocha de Mhí Dheireadh Fómhair - 31st October

An chéad lá de Mhí na Samhna - 1st November

Mí na Samhna - the month of November.

Halloween is celebrated on the eve of November, based on an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. It was celebrated by the ancient Celts to mark the end of summer and the fruits of Autumn. 

It was believed that on the night of the 31 October, Halloween, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred, so ghosts could cross into this world. To protect themselves they used light, mainly bonfires, and disguised themselves, often as animals, to scare away the evil spirits.

In Christian times, this ancient festival became known as All Souls’ Day, followed by All Saints’ Day on 1st November. Today Halloween is celebrated all over the world, taken abroad by the Irish as they travelled. 

Here are a few key words and phrases for Halloween

bob nó bia – trick or treat

cailleach gránna – an ugly witch

masc caillí – witch’s mask

púicín – blindfold

culaith - costume

gléasta suas – dressed up

hata biorach dubh – pointed black hat

crann scuaibe – broomstick

scuab chaillí – witch’s broomstick

tine chnámh - bonfire

tornapa – turnip

puimcín - pumpkin

úlla – apples

cnónna – nuts

milseáin – sweets

bairín breac – barm brack

fáinne – ring

cluichí – games

ag imirt – playing

spiorad – spirit

ainspridí – evil spirits

anam - soul

taibhse or púca – ghost

scannán uafás – horror film

cóisir – party

doorstep – leac doiris

ag insint scéalta – telling stories

eagla an domhain – very frightened

brionglóid – dream

tromluí – nightmare

A little song for Halloween (to the tune of Frére Jacques!)

Oíche Shamhna, Oíche Shamhna,

Bairín breac, bairín breac,

Úlla, cnónna, bairín breac,

Úlla, cnónna, bairín breac.

Is maith liom Oíche Shamhna,

Is maith liom Oíche Shamhna.

Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh!

Terri

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