Scottish Festivals
Fèilltean Albannach
There are different important festivals in every country and we can see some of the most important ones in Scotland below.
Let's complete our list of high days and holidays (special days) with some dates as well.
| Oidhche Challainn | Hogmanay | 31 Dùbhlachd | 31mh (an) Dùbhlachd |
| Oidhche Shamhna | Halloween | 31 Dàmhair | 31mh (an) Dàmhair |
| Là Buidhe Bealltainn | May Day | 01 Cèitean | 1d (an) Cèitean |
| Oidhche na Taigeise | Burns Night | 25 Faoilleach | 25mh (am) Faoilleach |
| Là Fhèill Mìcheil | Saint Michael's Day/Michaelmas | 29 Sultain | 29mh (an t–)Sultain |
| Là Fhèill Anndra(is) | Saint Andrew's Day | 30 Samhain | 30mh (an t–)Samhain |
| Là Fhèill Brìghde | Saint Brigid's Day | 01 Gearran | 1d (an) Gearran |
| Là Fhèill Pàdraig | Saint Patrick's Day | 17 Màrt | 17mh (am) Màrt |
| Là Fhèill Steafain | Boxing Day/Feast of Saint Stephen | 26 Dùbhlachd | 26mh (an) Dùbhlachd |
| Là na Bliadhna Ùire | New Year's Day | 01 Faoilleach | 1d (am) Faoilleach |
| Là na Nollaige | Christmas Day | 25 Dùbhlachd | 25mh (an) Dùbhlachd |
| Là Naomh Bhaileintin | Saint Valentine's Day | 14 Gearran | 14mh (an) Gearran |
And don't forget the most important festival in the Gaelic world:
| Am Mòd | The Mod | 3mh (an treasamh) seachdain san Dàmhair | third week in October |
There are a few more options for writing dates. You can find a useful list of these, with examples, on the SQA website.
Tobar an Dualchais
Kist o' Riches
There is a tremendous amount of information on the Tobar an Dualchais website: www.tobarandualchais.co.uk. Here are examples of different customs for three important times of the year.
Oidhche Shamhna
Halloween
Here is a little bit of information about customs at Halloween. The boys would recite this ditty when they were going round the houses.
Èirich a bhean an taighe
's thoir dhuinn am bonnag,
's mura toir thu dhuinn am bonnag
cha toir sinn urram ort tuilleadh!
Àm na Càisge
Easter(time)
And here is some information about Easter customs.
At one time 'wild' eggs would be sought after (hunted) at Easter time.
It was said that the sun would dance on Easter (Sunday) morning.
An Nollaig agus Oidhche Challainn/A' Bhliadhn' Ùr
Christmas and New Year
In Scotland New Year, Callainn or Oidhche na Bliadhn' Ùire used to be more important than Christmas. But now, many of us keep Christmas.