Celtic Recipes

Countdown to Halloween: The Celtic New Year

Submitted by Transceltic team on October 14, 2013 - 7:52pm

Halloween pumpkin

Halloween is a Celtic festival celebrated on the night of 31st October and 1st November every year. In the six Celtic Nations of Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales, Halloween marks the end of the summer and the beginning of winter. The festival is associated with the Celtic feast of Kala-Goañv (Breton), Calan Gwaf (Cornish), Samhain (Irish), Sauin (Manx Gaelic), Samhuinn (Scottish Gaelic) and Calan Gaeaf (Welsh). Entirely pagan in origin, Halloween was traditionally a time of year when the worlds of the living and the dead were seen to be at their closest. It is a time when the creatures of the 'Otherworld' make their presence known to the people of 'this world'.

Halloween is now a globally celebrated festival, particularly in the 'New World' where its traditions were brought by waves of Celtic emigration. The lanterns, fires, costumes and belief in the supernatural remain deeply rooted in Celtic culture and tradition. Although called Halloween in most places, on Isle of Man it is more usually known as 'Hop-tu-Naa'.

In the build-up to this year’s festival of Halloween, Transceltic brings a selection of stories, spooky tales and memories from around the world. New features will appear every week from now until Halloween Eve.

In the meantime, here are the Halloween features from last year:

Paisley is Host to Scotland's Celebration of Gaelic Culture - The Royal National Mod

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on October 12, 2013 - 2:23pm

The historic Scottish city of Paisley is the host to the 2013 Royal National Mod.  The event, sponsored by the Highland Association, will run through 19 October.  At its founding 121 years ago in the late 1800's, the Royal National Mod was modelled after the Welsh Eisteddfod. The 2013 Paisely festival is expected to attract 20,000 visitors and approxiamately 3,000 have registerd to perform. The Festival includes musical performances, dramatic presentations, dance, readings in Gaelic literature and various art exhibitions.    

English Try to Deny Cornish National Identity

Submitted by Douglas MacQueen on October 11, 2013 - 12:55pm

Pontificating from his home in Essex, England, the leader of the English Democrat party, the self-styled English national party, Robin Tilbrook, stated that, “The census figures show that not many people are precious about declaring themselves as Cornish”! This is in reference to the recently released 2011 census in relation to how people in Cornwall define their national identity.

The Gaelic Tongue of Our Fathers - Royal Irish Academy Launches the Doegen Archive

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on October 9, 2013 - 11:01pm

The Donegal Democrat under the headline "What Donegal Men Sounded Like Nearly a Century Ago" describes a stunning treasure trove of recordings of native Irish speakers telling fanciful tales captured by a German academic more than 85 years ago. This archive is now available on line under the auspices of the Royal Irish Academy.  The Irish Minister for Education and Skills, Rauiri Quinn, presided over the formal launch of the on-line archive at a ceremony in Dublin. 

Welsh Language Society Throws Down Gauntlet

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on October 8, 2013 - 3:49am

" We have drawn up a list of people who are willing to act  - campaigns like this have worked in the past and we are ready to do it again." - Robin Farrar

The BBC are reporting that "Language campaigners say they will start a campaign of non-violent action unless policies to protect Welsh are put in place."   The headline is based on statements made by Robin Farrar, Chairman of the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas Yr Laith). 

Launch of ‘Pobble’ Builds on Successful Growth in Manx Gaelic Language

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on October 6, 2013 - 6:34pm

Adrian Cain

‘Pobble’ is a Manx Gaelic word that translates into English as ‘People’. It is also the name given to a newly formed organisation on the Isle of Man/Mannin that seeks to promote the Manx language. The remarkable success in the growth of Manx Gaelic has attracted international interest for a number of years. ‘Pobble’ seeks to build on that success by firmly anchoring the language into all aspects of Manx community and business life.

Speaking to an enthusiastic audience at the official launch of ‘Pobble’ in Douglas, the islands capital, on 28th September, Adrian Cain, Manx Language Development Officer for Manx Heritage Foundation, outlined the aims and objectives of ‘Pobble’. Adrian spoke of the importance of continuing to expand the growth in Manx Gaelic and ensure that people understand its importance to the culture, economy and identity of the Isle of Man. ‘Pobble’ will help to ensure that those involved in the language movement continue to spread the message and build on the successes already achieved. The 'Pobble' Prospectus can be downloaded here.

The Celtic Tongue Shows Its Strength - The Welsh Language Fights Back

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Submitted by Emmett McIntyre on October 5, 2013 - 10:42pm

Wales Online reports: "A row has broken out over plans that could see more compulsory teaching of the Welsh language in English medium schools across Wales."  This follows on recent news reports that a broad coalition, including Rugby Coach Robin McBryde and MP Susan Elan Jones, have called in a letter to the Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, to universally introduce the teaching of subject matter in Welsh schools in the Welsh language so as to strengthen proficiency: "abolish the teaching of Welsh as a 'second language' like French or Spanish."

BBC Propaganda Machine Tries to Counter Rise in Celtic Nationalism

Submitted by Douglas MacQueen on October 2, 2013 - 2:54pm

In promoting the increasingly outdated idea of being ‘British’, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is attempting to try and counter the latest census results. The recently released 2011 Census results of the island of Britain reveals that 62.4% of people in Scotland see themselves as solely Scottish and 57.5% in Wales as solely Welsh. Just 18.3% of people in Scotland declared themselves to be “Scottish and British identities only” and only 8.4% in Scotland saw themselves as “British identity only”.

Solace Breaks New Ground in Manx Gaelic Films

Submitted by Valerie Caine on October 1, 2013 - 6:42pm

Margaret Ine Quane

A ground-breaking new film, spoken entirely in Manx Gaelic, will be premiered at the Broadway Cinema in Douglas as part of the MannIN Shorts series before being shown at various Island locations, Celtic festivals and film festivals around the world.

Based on the true story of Manxwoman Margaret Ine Quane (or Quaine), who along with her son was accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death, it’s taken from an original script by Nathan Russell-Raby who was struck by the power of her story whilst on an organised Ghost Walk around Castletown. The use of the prefix Ine was a common practise prior to the mid-seventeenth century and was a Gaelic contraction meaning ‘daughter’, which later fell out of use.

Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival 2013

Submitted by Valerie Caine on October 1, 2013 - 6:40pm

Manx cow

Back in the grounds of the Villa Marina in Douglas after a brief sojourn at Knockaloe on the west coast, this year’s Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival attracted many people wanting to learn more about Manx produce and meet The Fabulous Baker Brothers.

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