Irish calendar
The Irish calendar does not observe the 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 follows the seasons of the ancient Celts (see below) which are pre-Christian in origin. This is particularly evident in the Irish naming of many of the months: some names, like May (Bealtaine), August (Lughnasadh)/Lúnasa and November (Samhain, in the form of Màna 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".
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2 Calendar terms in Irish language |
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 an Bó 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 - MÃÂ na Samhna
December - MÃÂ na Nollag
Calendar terms in Irish language
Days of the Week - Laethanta na Seachtaine
Seasons of the Year - Ráithàna Bliana/Na Séasúir
Religious Seasons - Séasúir Creidimh
Holidays and Holydays - Féilte na Bliana
Movable Feasts - Na Féilte Reatha