Festivals & Events

1. Am Mòd

   The Mòd (Gaelic music and culture festival)

   Usage

   A Gaelic festival with competitions in singing, music and poetry

   Grammar Note

   "Mòd" also means assembly or court; note the grave accent on ò

2. Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

   The Royal National Mòd

   Usage

   The largest annual Gaelic festival, held each autumn

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives follow the noun; mind the grave accents in "Nàiseanta" and "Rìoghail"

3. Fèis

   Fèis (Gaelic cultural festival)

   Usage

   A local Gaelic festival of music and dance

   Grammar Note

   Always write the grave accent (è); the unaccented spelling "feis" is a different word

4. Fèisean nan Gàidheal

   Fèisean nan Gàidheal (Gaelic youth tuition festivals)

   Usage

   The network of local festivals teaching Gaelic music to young people

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "fèis" is "fèisean"; "nan" is the plural genitive article

5. Bealltainn

   Beltane (May Day)

   Usage

   The old festival on 1 May, marking the start of summer

   Grammar Note

   "Bealltainn" is feminine and refers to May Day

6. Samhainn

   Samhainn (Hallowtide, 1 November)

   Usage

   The old feast on 1 November from which Halloween derives

   Grammar Note

   Scottish Gaelic spells it with a double n, "Samhainn" (Irish: "Samhain")

7. Oidhche Challainn

   Hogmanay (New Year's Eve)

   Usage

   The biggest New Year's Eve celebration in Scotland

   Grammar Note

   "Challainn" is a lenited form referring to the turn of the year

8. Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

   Happy New Year!

   Usage

   The greeting when the New Year begins

   Grammar Note

   "Bliadhna" is feminine, so the adjective "math" lenites to "mhath"

9. Oidhche na Taigeise

   Burns Night (25 January)

   Usage

   The night honouring the poet Robert Burns, with a haggis supper

   Grammar Note

   Literally "night of the haggis"; the genitive of "taigeis" is "taigeise"

10. Là na Nollaig

    Christmas Day

    Usage

    25 December

    Grammar Note

    "Nollaig" is feminine; the genitive "na Nollaig" is used. "Oidhche na Nollaig" is Christmas Eve

11. Nollaig Chridheil!

    Merry Christmas!

    Usage

    A Christmas greeting

    Grammar Note

    "Nollaig" is feminine, so "cridheil" lenites to "Chridheil". Learn as a fixed phrase.

12. A' Chàisg

    Easter

    Usage

    The spring Christian festival

    Grammar Note

    "Càisg" is feminine and lenites after the article

13. Là Naomh Anndrais

    St Andrew's Day (30 November)

    Usage

    The day of Scotland's patron saint

    Grammar Note

    "Là" is a short form of "latha"; "naomh" means holy or saint

14. Cuin a bhios am Mòd?

    When is the Mòd?

    Usage

    To ask when the festival takes place

    Grammar Note

    "Bhios" is the future relative form of bi. Composed sentence.

15. A bheil cèilidh ann air Oidhche Challainn?

    Is there a ceilidh on Hogmanay?

    Usage

    When looking for New Year events

    Grammar Note

    "A bheil ... ann" asks whether something exists; answer "Tha" or "Chan eil". Composed sentence.

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