大象传媒

Bha mi ag innse dhuibh an t-seachdain sa chaidh mun Chaillich. 鈥橲 e A鈥� Chailleach seann earrann dhen Earrach. Roimhe sin, bha An Gearran. Roimhe sin bha An Fheadag. Roimhe sin bha Am Faoilleach. Bha na h-ainmean a鈥� buntainn ris mar a bha a鈥� ghaoth aig na h-amannan sin.

Bha earrann eile dhen Earrach ann eadar an Fheadag agus an Gearran. B鈥� e sin A鈥� Ghobag 鈥� no dogfish. Tha seo ann am Faclair Dwelly: A鈥� Ghobag: Period of the year, lasting according to some, three days, according to others a week, coming in, apparently, between the Feadag and the Gearran and so ending on 14th March. Tha Dwelly a鈥� toirt dhuinn seanfhacal: Feadagan is Gobagan e, tuilleadh gu F猫ill P脿draig 鈥� whistling and biting winds on to St Patrick鈥檚 Day.

脌s d猫idh a鈥� Ghearrain th脿inig 脌鈥� Chailleach. Bha a鈥� ghaoth sin a鈥� d猫anamh cron air feur a bha a鈥� feuchainn ri f脿s.

An do mhothaich sibh gur e ainmean bheathaichean a tha air na gaothan? Agus a-nise Na h-Othaisgean 鈥� beathaichean eile. Na h-Othaisgean 鈥� the ewes. Bha sin a鈥� tighinn 脿s d猫idh na Caillich. Mhair Na h-Othaisgean tr矛 latha. Tha mi a鈥� tuigsinn gum b鈥� e sin tr矛 latha matha. Bha deagh aimsir ann. Bha iad freagarrach airson breith nan uan. Tha an t-ainm a鈥� d猫anamh ciall a-nise, nach eil?

Bha earrannan beaga eile ann. An toiseach Ne貌il Dhubha na C脿isge (the dark clouds of Easter). Bha sin anns an treas seachdain dhen Mh脿rt. An uair sin Glasadh na Cuthaig (the cuckoo鈥檚 greening or preparation time). Bha An Sguabag ann cuideachd 鈥� the little blast. Ann am Faclair Dwelly tha: An Sguabag: Gusty wind. Tr矛 latha Sguabaig, three days, the 7th , 8th and 9th of April. Agus tha Sneachd na Cuthaig ann cuideachd 鈥� the cuckoo snow. Ann am Beurla tha daoine ag r脿dh the lambing snow ris. 鈥橲 e sin sneachd a n矛 cron air uain 霉ra.

脌s d猫idh a h-uile c脿il a tha sin, bidh Latha Buidhe Bealltainn againn. Cuiridh sin cr矛och air an Earrach! Ach m矛os roimhe sin, tha Latha na Gogaireachd. Chan eil sin fad 脿s a-nise! Thoiribh an aire!

Faclan is abairtean: 鈥橲 e A鈥� Chailleach seann earrann dhen Earrach: the Cailleach (鈥渙ld woman鈥�) is an old part of the Spring; roimhe sin, bha An Gearran: before that there was the Gearran (鈥済elding鈥�); roimhe sin bha An

Fheadag: before that there was the Feadag (鈥減lover鈥�); roimhe sin bha Am Faoilleach: before that there was the Faoilleach (鈥渨olf time鈥�); a鈥� buntainn ris mar a bha a鈥� ghaoth aig na h-amannan sin: concerned with how the wind was at those times; a鈥� d猫anamh cron air feur a bha a鈥� feuchainn ri f脿s: damaging grass that was trying to grow; an do mhothaich sibh?: did you notice?; gur e ainmean bheathaichean a tha air na gaothan: that it is names of animals that is on the winds; 脿s d猫idh na Caillich: after the Cailleach; mhair Na h-Othaisgean tr矛 latha: the Othaisgean (鈥渆wes鈥�) lasted three days; tha mi a鈥� tuigsinn gum b鈥� e sin tr矛 latha matha: I understand that was three good days; bha deagh aimsir ann: there was good weather; freagarrach airson breith nan uan: suitable for the birth of lambs; a鈥� d猫anamh ciall a-nise, nach eil?: makes sense now, doesn鈥檛 it?; an treas seachdain dhen Mh脿rt: the third week of March; sneachd a n矛 cron air uain 霉ra: snow that damages (does damage on) new lambs; 脿s d猫idh a h-uile c脿il a tha sin: after all that; Latha Buidhe Bealltainn: the yellow day of Beltane (1st May, the start of the old Celtic summer); cuiridh sin cr矛och air an Earrach: that brings (will bring) an end to Spring; m矛os roimhe sin, tha Latha na Gogaireachd: a month before that, there is April Fools鈥� Day; chan eil sin fad 脿s a-nise: that鈥檚 not far distant now; thoiribh an aire: be careful (plural).