Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit

Subject: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: paddymac
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 04:41 PM

I just got a PM from a non-Mudcatter friend reminding me the today is Imbolc. I would appreciate it if one of the Gaelic speaking 'Catters would advise if I got it right, or not. It happened the I was deep in the rapture that accompanies the half-way poin in the first hot punch of a dreary and cold evening in Tallahassee when my friend's message arrived. I thought immediately that I needed to pass in along to 'Catters everywhere. And just to keep this thread musical, is anyone aware of a song specific to the occasion?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:21 PM

I sang Gabhaim Molta Bríde yesterday, thinking it was already Feb.1rst!

lots of relevant threads if you look up St Brigid
St Brigid's Feast Day
St Brigid in Song
Imbolc songs
celebrate St Brigid's day

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 06:23 PM

I don't know whether I'd say "sona" or "shona"
(the latter sounds more like hunna in Englishy phonetics)
"Imbolc", the old name for the feast, is not a modern Irish word

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 03:56 AM

Definitely sona - second element would be declined as "bolg" is in Modern Irish. Terrible to think the word is masculine - given the very recent sexism and genderism applied to the celebration of this saint or goddess.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: Daithi
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:01 AM

How about Lá Fhéile Bhríde? Bit rusty on the ould apirations there!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: Daithi
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:38 AM

er..that would be "Lá Fhéile Bhríde shona dhuit" perhaps?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 11:10 AM

Maybe its time to say that the sona/shona is a bit artificial anyway. Nollaig Shona D(h)uit is a calque on the English "Happy Christmas". It is much more natural among speakers (both of us) not yet touched by this phrase to wish a Nollaig mhaith to each other - Go raibh Nollaig mhaith agat/Go dtuga Dia Nollaig mhaith duit. Indeed an older oral cliché would be Go dtuga Dia Nollaig mhór mhaith duit 'may God give you a good, big Christmas'. If there were more than two of us in the unsullied state of grace, we could then apply the phrase in the plural also - Nollaig mhaith agaibh. The phrase is probably from the time when a happy Christmas was one of plenty. Happiness wasn't in question until it became a time of excess.

Imbolc sona duit would of course be an even more recent phrase than Nollaig Shona Duit. Many more remain untouched by this potentially epidemic phrase. Before 1 February 2005, they would have been much more likely to say "go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís" (May we remain alive until this time comes again) or "gur seacht fearr a bhéas muid bliain ó inniu" (May we be seven times better a year from today).

But....in the artificial days in which we live - Lá Fhéile Bríde Shona Duit.

Sonas go raibh orainn ar fad.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST,aoi
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 03:08 PM

agus ort féin

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST,kent davis
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 09:41 PM

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: Daithi
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 03:50 AM

Go raibh míle maith agat, "Guest". Ceapaim go bhfuil ceart agat.Is foghlaimeoir mé, ach níl morán agam fós.
Agus bhí an lá feabhas, maise - as Gaeilge nó Bearla!
Le gach dea-ghuí
Dáithí

Subject: RE: Folklore: Imbolc Shona Duit
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Feb 07 - 02:12 PM

today!