Here is a video I put together of the customs associated with Halloween Oíche Shamhna /ee-ha how-na/.
Let’s learn about Halloween traditions.
Foghlaimímis faoi Thraidisiúin Oíche Shamhna
/foh-lem-ee-mish fwee hrad-ish-oo-in ee-ha how-na/
Halloween is celebrated on 1st November.*
Ceiliúrtar Oíche Shamhna ar an gcéad lá de mhí na Samhna.
/kel-oor-tur ee-ha how-na air on gayd law jeh vee nah sow-na/
It is the first day of Winter.
Is é an chéad lá den Gheimhreadh.
/shay on khayd law jen ghev-reh/
It is an ancient Gaelic festival.
Is féile ársa Ghaelach í Oíche Shamhna.
/Iss fay-la awr-sa ghay-lukh ee ee-ha how-na/
Bonfires are lit.
Lastar tinte cnámha.
/loss-tur chin-cheh kraw-va (knaw-va)/
People eat barm bracks and nuts.
Itheann daoine bairín breac agus cnónna.
/e-hen dee-nee baw-reen brak a-guss kroh-na (knoh-na)/
Children wear masks and costumes.
Caitheann páistí aghaidheanna fidil agus cultacha bréige.
/ka-hen paw-shtee i-en-na fid-ill a-guss kul-tukh-a bray-geh/
Families carve pumpkins and turnips.
Snoíonn teaghlaigh puimcíní agus turnapaí.
/Snee-en chi-lee pum-kee-nee a-guss tur-nup-ee/
There are also apple games.
Bíonn cluichí úll ar siúl chomh maith.
/Bee-un klih-hee ool air shool khoh mah/
* NB Although in English we usually say that Halloween falls on 31st October, the old Irish tradition was that Oíche Samhna was the night before the day 1st November – from nightfall on 31st October to dawn on 1st November.
Check our Samhain – Halloween Irish language resources.
4 thoughts on “Traidisiúin Oíche Shamhna | Irish Halloween Traditions (VIDEO)”
Thank you-looking forward to learning .
Go ndéana a mhaith duit! You’re welcome!
Have you started your own Irish teaching course?
Bitesize Irish has been around for the past 10 years. If you are wondering about myself personally, no I haven’t started my own Irish course, unless I’m to include the Irish song course that is part of the Bitesize course 🙂