# An Nollaig in Éirinn: Christmas in Ireland
Welcome to our guide to Christmas in Ireland! As beginner Irish speakers, you'll discover the beautiful traditions and vocabulary that make an Irish Christmas (An Nollaig) special. Let's explore the language and customs of this magical time of year.
## Basic Christmas Vocabulary
Let's start with some essential Christmas words in Irish:
- An Nollaig (on null-ig) = Christmas
- Daidí na Nollag (dad-ee na null-ug) = Santa Claus
- Oíche Nollag (ee-ha null-ug) = Christmas Eve
- Lá Nollag (law null-ug) = Christmas Day
- Coinneal (kwin-yal) = Candle
- Bronntanas (broun-tan-us) = Present/Gift
- Crann Nollag (kroun null-ug) = Christmas tree
- Maisiúcháin (mash-you-kawn) = Decorations
- Réalta (ray-ul-ta) = Star
- Aingeal (ang-ul) = Angel
Practice phrase: Tá an crann Nollag maisithe go hálainn. (Taw on kroun null-ug mash-ih-ha guh haw-lin) = The Christmas tree is beautifully decorated.
## Irish Christmas Traditions
### The Christmas Candle
One of Ireland's oldest Christmas traditions is placing a candle in the window. Let's learn some related phrases:
- Coinneal na Nollag (kwin-yal na null-ug) = Christmas candle
- Cuirim coinneal sa bhfuinneog (kir-im kwin-yal sa win-yogue) = I put a candle in the window
- Solas (sul-us) = Light
Practice sentence: Tá coinneal sa bhfuinneog chun fáilte a chur roimh chuairteoirí. (Taw kwin-yal sa win-yogue hun foyal-cha a cur rev koor-cho-ree) = There's a candle in the window to welcome visitors.
### Christmas Food
Irish Christmas wouldn't be complete without traditional foods. Here's some food-related vocabulary:
- Turcaí (tur-kee) = Turkey
- Liamhás (lee-vas) = Ham
- Prátaí rósta (praw-tee row-sta) = Roast potatoes
- Torthaí (tor-hee) = Fruits
- Pudding Nollag (pudding null-ug) = Christmas pudding
- Mince pies (same in Irish)
Practice phrase: Is breá liom pudding Nollag le custard. (Iss braw lum pudding null-ug le custard) = I love Christmas pudding with custard.
## Common Christmas Phrases
Here are some useful phrases for the Christmas season:
1. Nollaig Shona duit! (null-ig hun-a ditch) = Happy Christmas to you! (to one person)
2. Nollaig Shona daoibh! (null-ig hun-a deev) = Happy Christmas to you! (to multiple people)
3. Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit! (ah-vleen fwee vash-a ditch) = Happy New Year to you!
4. Go raibh maith agat as mo bhronntanas! (guh rev mah a-gut ass muh broun-tan-us) = Thank you for my present!
## A Christmas Story in Simple Irish
Here's a short story using our new vocabulary:
"Oíche Nollag a bhí ann. Bhí Síofra agus a deirfiúr Aoife ag fanacht go foighneach. Bhí an crann Nollag maisithe go hálainn, agus bhí coinneal ag lonrú sa bhfuinneog.
'An dtiocfaidh Daidí na Nollag anocht?' a d'fhiafraigh Síofra.
'Tiocfaidh,' a dúirt Mam, 'ach caithfidh tú dul a chodladh ar dtús!'
Ar maidin, bhí bronntanais faoin gcrann. 'Nollaig Shona!' a bhéic na cailíní le háthas."
Translation:
"It was Christmas Eve. Síofra and her sister Aoife were waiting patiently. The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated, and a candle was shining in the window.
'Will Santa Claus come tonight?' asked Síofra.
'Yes,' said Mom, 'but you must go to sleep first!'
In the morning, there were presents under the tree. 'Happy Christmas!' the girls shouted with joy."
## Christmas Activities
Common activities during the Christmas period:
1. Siopadóireacht Nollag (shup-a-dore-ocht null-ug) = Christmas shopping
- Téim ag siopadóireacht Nollag i lár na cathrach. (Taym egg shup-a-dore-ocht null-ug i lawr na ca-hrach) = I go Christmas shopping in the city center.
2. Amhráin Nollag (ow-rawn null-ug) = Christmas carols
- Canaimid amhráin Nollag le chéile. (can-a-mid ow-rawn null-ug le kay-la) = We sing Christmas carols together.
3. Aifreann na Nollag (af-run na null-ug) = Christmas Mass
- Téimid go dtí an Aifreann Oíche Nollag. (Tay-mid guh dee on af-run ee-ha null-ug) = We go to Christmas Eve Mass.
## Weather at Christmas
Let's learn some weather-related vocabulary for wintertime:
- Sneachta (shnak-ta) = Snow
- Sioc (shuck) = Frost
- Oighear (eye-her) = Ice
- Fuar (foo-er) = Cold
Practice sentence: Tá súil agam go mbeidh sneachta againn um Nollaig. (Taw sool a-gum guh may shnak-ta a-gin um null-ig) = I hope we'll have snow at Christmas.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Try using these phrases with your family and friends during the holiday season. Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir! (Happy Christmas to you all!)
Caoimhe, OLS Community Manager - Irish