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December 26th is Saint Stephen's Day. This is a day in the Christian calender that remembers Stephen who was said to have been the first Christian martyr who was stoned to death by Jewish authorities in c.34 having been accused of blasphemy. It is a day that is also celebrated by the tradition of 'Hunt the Wren', particularly in the Celtic nations of Ireland (Éire) and Isle of Man (Mannin). 

As pre-Christmas storms sweep across Scotland this year the work of rescue services on land and at sea are vital. Also an important factor on the hills and mountains of Scotland is the prediction of the conditions leading to avalanches. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides vital information every winter, giving reports on avalanche, snow, and mountain conditions for Lochaber, Glen Coe, Northern Cairngorms, Southern Cairngorms, Torridon and Creag Meagaidh.

The historic 2500 acre forest of Lock Arkaig has been bought by the local community. Woodland Trust Scotland joined with Arkaig Community Forest to purchase the forest. The Woodland Trust intends to restore the forest with a programme of native tree planting. An appeal was launched to raise money towards buying the forest. Gary Servant, of Arkaig Community Forest, said: "This is a great moment. The land has been bought and we have a fantastic opportunity to work together to restore these native woodlands and to reconnect local people with their forests.

The heart of the homeland of Scots Gaelic is receiving a welcome boost. Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, has been awarded funding for a Gaelic Cultural Centre.  The announcement was made by John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Billed as an Arts Centre fostering Gaelic music, dance and Celtic cultural traditions, when completed the facility is expected to generate 40 jobs.

A very special event is taking place to celebrate the Old Manx Christmas at 8.00pm on Friday 6 January 2017 in the intimate candlelit setting of Patrick Church on the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin). Old Manx Christmas Concert  - Kiaull yn Nollick Veg Knockaloe  will feature Hartes Ease, a local group specializing in 16th and 17th century Renaissance music.

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

Kernow

19 Mis Gwyngala 2016

A why agas oll wheg

Westminster Government ignores Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM)

A giant ancient Welsh oak tree that was under threat of being felled in 2009 to make way for a road development has been crowned Tree of the Year.  The competition is run by the Woodland Trust charity. When the tree, known as The Brimmon Oak, came under threat seven years ago, local farmer Mervyn Jones on whose farm the tree stands, started a campaign to save the tree. This resulted in the Welsh Government agreeing to vary the route of the road to save the tree.

This year's Illiam Dhône commemoration starts at 2pm on 2nd January 2017. It is held annually at Hango Hill which is close to the location at which Manx National hero Illiam Dhône was shot on 2nd January 1663 for his part in the Manx Rising of 1651. In heading the Manx Rising Illiam Dhône was clearly motivated to act in the best interests of the Manx people and his Celtic homeland. 

News from the Celtic League:

Just days after the documentary ‘Atlantic’ which highlighted the activities of super trawlers was broadcast by RTE cataloguing the damage that they are wreaking on the livelihood of local fishing communities we started tracking some of the largest of these vessels including the Annelies Ilena and the Willem Van der Zwan. At 14,000 tonnes the Annelies Ilena is the largest trawler in the world.

We found them fishing off Northern Scotland near Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and then they started to make there way south (link):

Over a million acorns have been collected as part of a project to expand ancient oakwoods in south west Scotland. The scheme is taking place in Galloway Forest Park which is a woodland park, principally covering woodland in Dumfries and Galloway (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh). Over the next few years, Forest Enterprise Scotland will plant the acorns around Loch Trool and the Cree Valley helping to grow some 600,000 young trees.