Category Archives: Folklore

Yellow plant of Beltane

Posted on May 3, 2022 by NatureScot

The marsh marigold is a vivid reminder of the close links between Gaelic culture and the Scottish seasons, as Ruairidh MacIlleathain explains. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig The day that starts the summer, now the first of May, is still known … Continue reading →

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Lus buidhe Bealltainn

Posted on May 3, 2022 by NatureScot

Tha na Gàidheil fhathast a’ comharrachadh na Bealltainn, co-dhiù le bhith ag ainmeachadh a’ chiad latha dhen Chèitean mar ‘Latha Buidhe Bealltainn’. Tha ‘buidhe’ an dà chuid na chomharra de dhath agus de dheagh fhortan (canaidh sinn ‘nach buidhe dhut’ … Continue reading →

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Birds of Premonition

Posted on November 23, 2021 by NatureScot

The Gaels traditionally viewed some bird behaviours as predictors of future events… Leugh ann an Gàidhlig Birds are active creatures whose lives intertwine regularly with our own. Some of our avian friends even make their homes in and around our … Continue reading →

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Eòin nam Manaidhean

Posted on November 23, 2021 by NatureScot

ʼS iomadh eun a dh’innseas dhuinn dè tha romhainn … Read in English Tha na ceanglaichean eadar eòin agus daoine gu math làidir. Nach tuirt ar sinnsearan gum b’ e Linn an Àigh nuair a bha Gàidhlig aig na h-eòin?! … Continue reading →

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Warrior’s Friendship

Posted on October 5, 2021 by NatureScot

Valerian is a plant long utilised by herbalists in the Gàidhealtachd and beyond. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig I have written previously in this blog about how the meadowsweet is known in Gaelic tradition as a plant that once soothed the … Continue reading →

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Carthan Curaidh

Posted on October 5, 2021 by NatureScot

Tha an lus seo aithnichte do lighichean luibheach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus tìrean cèin. Read in English Tha mi air sgrìobhadh mu-thràth mu dheidhinn an luis ris an canar Crios Chù Chulainn a tha aithnichte mar meadowsweet ann am Beurla. … Continue reading →

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Traille nam Banarach

Posted on May 28, 2021 by NatureScot

Tha iasg a bhuineas don aiginn a’ nochdadh – gu h-annasach – ann an seann chrònan bleoghainn. Read in English Tha e fìor ri ràdh nach eil an traille – iasg-mara a bhuineas do theaghlach nan langannan agus ris an … Continue reading →

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The Tusk of the Milking Maids

Posted on May 28, 2021 by NatureScot

A deep-water fish appears – rather strangely and inexplicably –  in an old Gaelic milking song Leugh ann an Gàidhlig It is fair to say that the deep-water marine fish known in English as tusk or cusk – traille in … Continue reading →

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An Calltainn – Craobh ar n-Annsachd

Posted on April 30, 2021 by NatureScot

Tha àite sònraichte aig a’ chraoibh-challtainn ann an saoghal traidiseanta nan Gàidheal. Read in English Tha an calltainn (Corylus avellana) na craoibh shònraichte do na Gàidheil mar a tha e do shlòigh air feadh na Roinn Eòrpa agus taobh an … Continue reading →

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The Beloved Hazel

Posted on April 30, 2021 by NatureScot

Gaelic tradition affords the craobh-challtainn – the hazel tree – a special place in people’s affections. Leugh ann an Gàidhlig The hazel tree (Corylus avellana) is a special plant to the Gaels, as it is to many of the peoples … Continue reading →

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