The Celtic tree month of the birch begins today and reinforces the Yuletide theme of renewal because the birch was said to be the first of all of the trees to develop leaves in spring. It is also credited with magickal properties, for it is believed to have the power to exorcise evil spirits, which is why “birching,” or being beaten with birch twigs, was once a punishment. If its wood is included in sleeping drafts, it will ward off nightmares, while a birch broom will sleep away the lingering essence of the old year to make way for the new. (And birch wood was traditionally favored for witches’ besoms, or broomsticks.)
The Yule Log
Bring your Yule log into the house today. It should be oak, in honor of the Oak King, and should be set on fire at dusk, preferably using a sliver of wood from last year’s Yule log. (Stash away a piece of this year’s Yule log in turn: it should protect your home from fire.)
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According to the Celtic tree calendar, December 23rd is the day of the Yew and Silver Fir. In magickal belief, these two trees are said to be sisters. for their foliage look similar. Yet they represent diametrically opposed concepts, the silver fir symbolizing birth and promise, and the yew, death. But because both are evergreen, both also signify the eternal cycle of life: birth, life, death and reincarnation. Yew trees are planted in European graveyards, and probably gained their association with death on account of their poisonous cones. The yew’s hard and flexible wood was also once used to make bows, instruments of death.
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A Celtic Flavor
The most common way to say Merry Christmas in Irish is “Nollaig Shona Duit.”
(Nullug Shunna it). This would be used if addressing one other person.
If you were addressing more than one person you would say “Nollaig Shona
Daoibh.” (Nullug-nuh JEEV). This literally means “You have a Happy
Christmas.” A common response to this would be “Nollaig Mbaith Chugat”
(Nullug WyHU-gut), which literally means “A good Christmas to you.”
For a Happy New Year one would say “Athbhliainfaoi Mhaise Duit.”(AH-vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuh it) for the singular;
and the plural would be: “Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh.”(AH-vlee-ihn fweeWAH-shuh HEEV).
The literal translation would be “You have a Prosperous New Year.”
Just as in English the two expressions are often combined to say Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year, “Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise
Duit.” (Nullug shunna AH-guhs AH-vlee-ihn fweeWAH-shuh it). The plural would be:
“Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliainfaoi Mhaise Daoibh.” (Nullug shunna AH-guhs AH-vlee-ihn fwee WAH-shuhHEEV).
For the all of the above greetings a common responseis; “Go mba hé duit” (guh may hay it) which means:
“The same to you.”
Note: To pronounce duit. “it” Hold the “t” longer than you do in English.
Oh Come All Ye Faithful in Irish
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Téarnaigh in Eineacht
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Téarnaigh in Eineacht
“Tear knee in Ain nocht”
Téarnaigh in éineacht, téarnaimis go haerach
“Tear knee in Ain nocht, tear nah mish go hair ock”
téarnaigh, ó téarnaigh go mBeithil Thoir
“Tear knee, o tear knee, go meh hill hoar”
Chífimid an Nai ann, Rí na naingeal, losa
“chee fee midge an neh ow-n, Re nah nangle, Ee-sah”
Umhlóimid sios Dó
“Oh loy midge shes dough”
Umhlóimid sios Dó
Umhlóimid sios Dó
Is glóire Dó
“iss glor-ah dough”
Seinnidh, a Shlóite, Aingeal, suas bhur gceolta
“Shay knee, a hloyta, angle. sues were key ol ta”
Freagraidh, a chomhachta, a gceoltasan
“Frag rah, a co och ta, a key ol ta san”
Glóire gan teora, do theacht am tSlanathóra
“Glora gone chore ah, dough yhack ah-m teh slaw nah hoar ah”
Umhlóimid sios Dó
Umhlóimid sios Dó
Umhlóimid sios Dó
Is glóire Dó
Deity of the Day
Epona
(Celtic)
Divine Horse/The Great She. Goddess of Horses, Asses, Mules, Oxen and, to some degree, of Springs and Rivers. Goddess of fertility and maternity. Protective of horses, horse breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing, springs, crops. She was especially popular with Roman soldiers. Animal associations Horses and dogs.
Witches Of The Craft® 