2011 has been a significant year for Gaelic and Scots with the Scottish Government committed to ensuring a bright future for both.

In August, research was published showing amongst other findings that 81% of the Scottish public feel it is important that Scotland does not lose its Gaelic language traditions. We also saw the beginning of a new dawn in Gaelic Medium Education in Edinburgh with the council finalising its plans for a new school at Bonnington, with Scottish Government backing.

Hot on the heels of another successful Mòd, and with 2012 set to present us with more landmarks for Gaelic and Scots, we’d like to take the opportunity of the festive season to highlight some useful phrases for this time of year!

Merry Christmas / Nollaig Chridheil / Blithe Yule to you and your friends and family…

p.s. Fancy learning more in 2012? Check out Clì Gàidhlig.

DAY 1: SLÀINTE MHATH! (Gaelic)
Hot on the heels of St Andrew’s Day – a phrase that’s useful all year round, as well as a wish to a friend in your Christmas cards.

Meaning: To Good health!/Cheers! – Slàinte mhath!

DAY 2: BUBBLY-JOCK (Scots)
On Christmas Day will you be having some bubbly-jock? That’s the Scots term for a turkey. Whilst it’s peace and goodwill to all men and women, this time of year is a dangerous one if you’re a bubbly-jock! The Scottish Poetry Library have a poem on Scots Language Centre’s website documenting that. Read The Bubbly-Jock by Scots poet W.D. Cocker.

DAY 3: CRAOBH NOLLAIG (Gaelic)
On the first weekend in December, will you be one of those putting up your craobh Nollaig today? (pronounced ‘kroov-nohl-ek’) That’s the Gaelic for Christmas Tree. In relative terms craobh Nollaigs are more recent addition to the celebration, in the past people would have tended to decorate their house with greenery and candles.

 

DAY 4: LUM (Scots)
It’s not a bad idea to check out your lum in December to make sure it’s clear. This is almost essential at Christmas if you’re expecting a certain visitor in a red suit, as lum is the Scots word for chimney. A traditional saying also often used around New Year is ‘Lang may yer lum reek’, meaning a wish for long life and prosperity –  literally, long may your chimney smoke.

DAY 5:  CHO GRUAMACH RI MADAINN DILUAIN (Gaelic)
The fact it’s only 19 days till Christmas now, or just that it’s a Monday - anyone not feeling into the festive spirit just yet might enjoy the opportunity to say this today - Cho gruamach ri madainn diluain , meaning ‘as gloomy as a Monday morning’. Pronounced ‘cho grow-am-akh ri maa-din di-low-in’, it’s a traditional gaelic saying more commonly used in the winter months given the short length of the daylight and the sometimes inclement weather.

DAY 6: SNAW
Some of us woke up to it this morning. Hopefully it’ll turn to snaw-bree (melting snow) before it causes too much trouble.

Other Scots words for snow:

pyle = snowflake
blaister – a thin cover of snow
snaw-bree – melting snow/slush
snaw-broo melted snow
snawd or snawn – snowed
yowdendrift – snow blizzard

And  if you’d like to say something in gaelic about it, you could try the traditional saying ‘As white as snow’ – Cho geal ris an t-sneachda, pronounced ‘Cho g-yall ris an trachka’.

DAY 7: ABAIR ACH BEAGAN AGUS ABAIR GU MATH E (Gaelic)
Still to choose Christmas presents, remember this gaelic phrase – ‘Abair ach beagan agus abair gu math e’, meaning The hand that gives is the hand that will receive. A nice sentiment indeed.

Pronunciation: ‘Abir ach bake-an s abir goo ma e’

DAY 8: A BLITHE YULE/CANTIE YULE (Scots)
Has someone just wished you a cantie yule? Don’t worry, that’s a good thing… it means a ‘cheerful or pleasant Christmas’. Want to return the compliment, try blythe yule – that means ‘Happy Christmas’.

DAY 9: TAGH DO CHOMHLUADAR MA’N TAGH THU DO DHEOCH (Gaelic)
It’s Christmas and office party season, and there’s a few traditional Gaelic phrases that might fit quite nicely with that including this, ‘Tagh do chomhluadar ma’n tagh thu do dheoch’, meaning, ‘Choose your company before you choose your drink’.

Pronunciation: ‘Abir ach bake-an s abir goo ma e’

DAY 10: THE MAUT’S ABUIN THE MEAL (Scots)
What’s a phrase that might describe the party when it’s under way? Meaning ‘the drink is flowing very generously’, The maut’s abuin the meal is an old Scots phrase that probably fits. Presumably they also added an equivalent of please drink responsibly so you didn’t end up getting labelled a numpty.

DAY 11: ABAIR ACH BEAGAN IS ABAIR GU MATH E (Gaelic)
Perfect advice if you have to give a speech at the office party or say something before carving the turkey this Christmas, Abair ach beagan is abair gu math e –  Say but little and say it well.

DAY 12: A BODY MICHT BE KIND AN NO GIE MUCKLE GEAR (Scots)
Whatever you’re spending on Christmas in these times, today’s offering is a Scots phrase that will always serve as a good reminder, ‘A body micht be kind an no gie muckle gear’ means ‘It doesn’t cost much for a person to be nice.’

DAY 13: AN NI ‘S AN TEID DÀIL THEID DEARMAID (Gaelic)
Tomorrow’s the last posting day to make sure parcels (not letters) get to their recipient in time for the big day, here’s a Gaelic reminder that will get them there. ‘An ni ’s an teid dàil theid dearmaid’  meaning ‘What is delayed will be forgotten’. Pronounced: ‘A knees an tay’d daal hay’d der-a-maid’.

DAY 14: HOGMANAY POEM (Scots)
Today we have not a word or a phrase, but a poem! Violet Jacob’s Scots ode to celebratory over-indulging at New Year, since that was when Scotland traditionally had their major celebrations. Whilst it’s hard not to admire the lyricism of lines like “But we’ll suin gar him lowp to the pipin till he cowp” this auld ode to overdoing it would surely come with a health warning attached these days.

Read the poem in full online here.
Hear it sung on the Scot’s Language Centre’s website.

DAY 15: BODACH NA NOLLAIG (Gaelic)
At the moment he’s likely checking his list and working furiously to prepare everything for the busiest night of the year. Bodach Na Nollaig is Father Christmas or Santa Claus in Gaelic, pronounced ‘baw-duch na nollayk’.

The Scots equivalent is Sandy Claas or if you’re on first-name-only terms, ‘Santie’ (’san-tay’).

DAY 16: BLACK BUN (Tradition)
Black Bun is a type of traditional Scottish fruit cake made to be eaten on twelfth night, or in more recent times on Hogmanay and in and around the New Year. Completely covered in pastry when baked, it’s then cut into thick, dark ‘black’ slices. Containing a dense mix of currants, almonds, raisins, allspice, citrus peel, ginger, cinnamon and pepper it gives regular Christmas cake a run for it’s money in the richness stakes. A good Scottish gift to take when when you’re out visiting people or ‘first fittin” to bring in the New Year. Normally made a few weeks in advance you might just have time to get one ready now. Tempted? Try this Black Bun recipe.

You can hear Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s languages explain what first footing is on the Scots Language Centre website.

DAY 17: FIADH LOCHLANNACH (Gaelic)
Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, they’re all fiadh lochlannach, and that of course is reindeer. It’s pronounced ‘fee-uch-lawch-lanuch’

DAY 18: AULD YULE (Scots)
Taking place on January 6, Auld Yule is Christmas Day using the old calendar. On the same day as the Orthodox Christmas which also kept that calendar for religious festivals, 20 miles west of Shetland Auld Yule is still celebrated on that date in Foula, one of the most remote islands in Britain (population 30).

DAY 19: FION MILSICHTE (Gaelic)
Feeling the winter chill today? Perhaps a hot, spicy, sticky glass of fion milsichte will warm you up. Pronounced ‘Fee-un mee-ll-sh-eech-ch’, that’s Gaelic for mulled wine.

DAY 20: AULD LANG SYNE (Scots)
Composed by Robert Burns in 1788, Auld Lang Syne is a famous Scots poem he wrote, using and expanding upon on some traditional lines and phrases of the time. Now sung worldwide to a Scots folk melody that pre-dates its words, you’re likely to hear rowsing renditions of Auld Lang Syne at the end of all types of celebrations, including weddings, parties and other special occasions. It is particularly known and suited to New Year celebrations however, given its rhetorical question on whether we should remember our past via it’s refrain that literally translates as “old long since” and more loosely as “for (the sake of )old times.” It’s also common tradition for everyone to form a giant circle round the room when singing it and hold hands with whoever’s next you. You’ll often see people crossing their arms across their breast – holding their neighbour’s hand by putting their right arm over to their left and vice-versa, though the true Scottish tradition is only to hold hands this way from the beginning of the last verse and then at the end of the song everyone rushes in to the middle and back out still holding hands. Whatever way you do it, it’s likely to be lots of fun…

You can read the lyrics in full on the Scots Language Centre website, and if you want to start practising they also have a few Auld Lang Syne videos with music.

DAY 21: MARY’S SANG/ ORAN MHUIRE  – PARLIAMENT CAROL READING (Scots section)

Today we have the Scots reading given by Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages at The Scottish Parliament’s Carol Service this evening (See Day 22 below for an explanation from Dr Allan on the reading).

He haes dung high princes doun fae their thones,
An heized up the hummle an laich
He haes gien the hungert their full o guid fairin
An driven the gearie an gethert tuim-haundit awa
He haes helpit Israel his servan
Sae mindfu he wes o his mercie
Een as he hecht oor forefaithers
Abraham an his seed, for iver an aye

The Scots Language Centre is marking the Advent season with a series of specially selected readings from the Scots translation of the New Testament, you hear them online here.

DAY 22: ORAN MHUIRE / MARY’S SANG  – PARLIAMENT CAROL READING (Gaelic section)
Before today’s reading an explanation from  Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages on this piece that he picked for the Scottish parliament Carol Service. See yesterday (above) for the Scots section of the reading:

“The passage is from Luke’s Gospel.  It is the words of the song sung by Mary when she learns she is to give birth to Christ.

I read the first half of the passage in Gaelic (from the Gaelic Bible) and the second half in Scots from Lorimer’s translation of the New Testament into Scots (see Day 21 above).

I chose this reading because of (in my view) its beauty, and because it  speaks powerfully of the dismissal by God of the claims of the rich and wealthy in favour of those of the humble and poor.

As a side note, the Lorimer New Testament was translated from the original Greek and remains one of the most substantial pieces of prose published in Scots, while the Gaelic Bible is in wide use to this day in Gaelic speaking Scotland.”

The Gaelic Reading:

Luke ch 1, v 46 -56
Oran Mhuire / Mary’s sang

Agus thubhairt Muire:
“Tha m’anam ag àrd-mholadh an Tighearn’,
Agus tha mo spiorad a’ deanamh gairdeachais ann an Dia mo Shlànuighear.
Do bhrìgh gun d’amhairc e air staid ìosail a bhanoglaich.
Oir feuch, bho seo suas, goiridh gach linn beannaichte mi.
Do bhrìgh gun d’rinn an Ti a tha cumhachdach nithe mòra dhomh, agus is naomh ainm.
Agus tha a thròcairsan o linn gu linn, do’n dream don eagal e.
Nochd e neart le ghàirdean, sgap e na uaibhrichann an smuaintibh an cridhe fhèin.

DAY 23: COILEACH FRANGACH (Gaelic)
You might remember ‘bubbly-jock’ from Day 2, that was Scots for turkey… now here’s it gaelic equivalent – coileach frangach. Want to impress the family pre-Christmas dinner? Tell them you’re off to put the ’kull-uch fra-ng-uch’ in the oven.

DAY 24: YULE E’EN (Scots)
Today’s the day that can’t go fast enough for every wean (and some older weans too!), hope you’re having a lovely Yule E’En and the stocking’s are ready to hang tonight, here’s a fun poem by JK Annand. Let’s hope we’ve all been guid lads and lasses this year…

YULE by JK Annand

I’m gaun to hing a stockin up,
I’ll borrow my big brither’s,
It’s bigger nor my sister’s ane
And strang-er nor my mither’s.

I’ll be in bed on Yule E’en
When Faither Christmas comes.
I ken he’ll wale oor chimley oot
Amang the ither lums.

On Yule richt early I’ll be up
Afore the screich o day
To see what ferlies Santa Claus
Has brocht me for my play.

I hope he’ll mind a cuddly bear,
And cups for dolly’s tea
Wi lots o ither bonnie toys
For a guid wee lass like me.

DAY 25: A BLYTHE YULE  / NOLLAIG CHRIDHEIL
Merry Christmas from everyone involved in Engage For Education.
SCOTS FESTIVE WORDS & PHRASES

Merry Christmas = Blithe Yule/Cantie yule

Happy New Year (to one and all) = A Guid New Year (tae ane an aw)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year = A Blythe Yule an A Guid New Year

Santa Claus = Sandy Claas / Santie

Father Christmas = see Santa Claus above

Christmas Tree = Christmas tree / yule tree

Christmas Eve = Yule E’en

Snowman = Snaaman / snawman

Turkey = Bubbly-jock

New Year’s Eve = Hogmanay

New Year’s Day = Ne’er Day

Epiphany = Uphaillie day

I would like to say:
“Merry Christmas” to a group = Blythe Yule tae ye’s aw! “Merry Christmas” to an individual = Blythe Yule

“Happy New Year” to a group = A Guid New Year tae an an aw!

“Happy New Year” to an individual = A Guid New Year!!

MORE GAELIC FESTIVE WORDS & PHRASES
(Pronunciation in brackets).

Merry Christmas = Nollaig Chridheil  (nollayk chree-ell)

Happy New Year = Bliadhna Mhath Ur – (blee-un-u va oor)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year = Nollaig Chridheil agus (a-gus) Bliadhna Mhath Ur

Santa Claus = Bodach na Nollaig (‘baw-duch na nollayk’)

Father Christmas =  As Santa Claus above

Christmas Tree = Craobh Nollaig  (‘kru-u -v nollayk’)

Christmas Eve = Oidhche Nollaig (‘ugh-ch-u nollayk’)

Snowman = Bodach sneachda (‘baw-duch shne-uch-du’)

Mistletoe/mistletoe equivalent (‘uil-ioc – oo-eel-eeoo-uch’)

Turkey = Coileach Frangach (‘kull-uch fra-ng-uch’)

Mulled Wine = Fìon mìlsichte (‘Fee-un mee-ll-sh-eech-ch’)

Reindeer = Fiadh Lochlannach (‘fee-u lawch-lanuch’)

Hogmanay = Oidhche-Challainn (‘ugh-ch-u challin’)

New Year’s Day = Latha na Bliadhna Ùire (‘la na bli-anna oor’)

I would like to say:
“Merry Christmas” to a group = Nollaig Chidheil dhuibh (nollayk chree-ell-goo-eev)

“Merry Christmas” to an individual = Nollaig Chridheil dhut(nollayk chree-ell-goo-tt)

“Happy New Year” to a group = Bliadhna Mhath ùr dhuibh (‘Bli-anna Va oor  ghuiv’)

“Happy New Year” to an individual = Bliadhna Mhath ùr dhut (‘Bli-anna Va oor ghoot’)

Useful links:
Scottish Government website – Gaelic section.

Scots Language Centre
The Scots Language Centre was founded to do everything possible to promote the Scots language. Their main aim is to give people that speak Scots the chance to learn more about their own language.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Bòrd na Gàidhlig works to promote Gaelic, and strives in partnership with the Scottish Government, the people of Scotland and the Gaelic organisations to improve the status of the language.

Want to learn gaelic? Check out http://www.learngaelic.net/For awareness of Gaelic culture, history etc. the Open University have recently launched new Gaelic units which can be accessed for free here.