Winter Solstice in Irish?

Gingko

What is the Irish translation for Winter Solstice? Also "Happy Winter Solstice"?

Appreciate help!

Grudaire

grianstad an gheimhridh

Seems to be the only translation I can see. I would be surprised if there isn't another historic word for it, but it does seem to be the one in use nowadays: http://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grianstad_an_Gheimhridh

Gingko

Maith thú Cliste! Yea on further browsing it seems to be all that's coming up. There is an ancient Celtic word for it somewhere too.

I wonder would sticking "Beannactaí" before it do the trick?

Grudaire

Beannachtaí would be a way of saying Winter Solstice Wishes (on you)
Beannachtaí Grianstad an Gheimhridh (ort)

'Grianstad an Gheimhridh Shona' would be 'Happy Winter Solstice'


Neither really read right to me, so perhaps wait for other people to clarify the gramatical details.

FWVT

Should't the Grianstad take a sheimhiu when coming after Beannachtai?

An Sionnach Glic

FWVT wrote: »

Should't the Grianstad take a sheimhiu when coming after Beannachtai?

Yes, it should; Beannachtaí Ghrianstad an Gheimhridh (due to the genitive construct being directly followed by the definite article ('an'))

Other examples:

Muintir na tíre
Airgead mhuintir na tíre

Teach na Mara
Radharc Theach na Mara

pog it

Grianstad an Gheimhridh does sound wrong doesn't it? But I've not got another word for it either right now!

Gumbi

Gingko wrote: »

Maith thú Cliste! Yea on further browsing it seems to be all that's coming up. There is an ancient Celtic word for it somewhere too.

I wonder would sticking "Beannactaí" before it do the trick?

If just like to clarify that Celtic isn't actually a language, rather a family of languages, of which Irish is one.

An Sionnach Glic

pog it wrote: »

Grianstad an Gheimhridh does sound wrong doesn't it? But I've not got another word for it either right now!

What sounds wrong with it, do you think? Focal.ie seem to approve:

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=winter+solstice

Grudaire

In fairness it sounds like a new word..

I would imagine that an older word existed when they built newgrange, I can't imagine the natives saying Grianstad an Gheibhridh!

Insect Overlord

An Sionnach Glic wrote: »

What sounds wrong with it, do you think? Focal.ie seem to approve:

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=winter+solstice

It sounds too scientific to be an event of celebration.

Correct term, but not romantic enough, IMO.

dlofnep

Grianstad is the right word for winter solstice. It's the same in Scottish Gaelic.

An Sionnach Glic

Cliste wrote: »

I would imagine that an older word existed when they built newgrange, I can't imagine the natives saying Grianstad an Gheibhridh!

Considering that historically, we're not even sure what language those people spoke, it's a bit of a moot point. I'm not sure of the historical usage of 'Grianstad' as a term, but I wouldn't automatically assume that it's a recently coined word, though there is that possibility.

An gal gréine

dlofnep wrote: »

Grianstad is the right word for winter solstice. It's the same in Scottish Gaelic.

It's a good indication that grianstad is not a recent Irish composition for solstice when it's almost identical to the Gàidhlig 'grian-stad'.

Insect Overlord

Wikipedia suggests Meán Geimhridh might be an alternative.

An Sionnach Glic

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Wikipedia suggests Meán Geimhridh might be an alternative.

The less attention paid to Wikipedia the better!

Insect Overlord

An Sionnach Glic wrote: »

The less attention paid to Wikipedia the better!

It's not an accepted source for academic essays, but it's certainly no Google Translate. "Mid-winter" is an old concept for celebrations at this time of the year.

An Sionnach Glic

Insect Overlord wrote: »

It's not an accepted source for academic essays, but it's certainly no Google Translate.

True, but the "lesser of two evils" argument probably isn't very reassuring for someone looking for an accurate translation.

Insect Overlord wrote: »

"Mid-winter" is an old concept for celebrations at this time of the year.

'Mid-winter' is vague though. Solstice is a specific event to do with sunlight on a particular day.

Insect Overlord

An Sionnach Glic wrote: »

'Mid-winter' is vague though. Solstice is a specific event to do with sunlight on a particular day.

...traditionally celebrated over a period of several days.

An Sionnach Glic

Insect Overlord wrote: »

...traditionally celebrated over a period of several days.

Fair enough. Well I suppose it's up to the OP in the end which they think most appropriate.

FWVT

I've got it - Grian na Draoithe (Druids' Sun)?

Gumbi

FWVT wrote: »

I've got it - Grian na Draoithe (Druids' Sun)?

I don't know. But it would have to be in the genitive plural, yours is just the plural.

Grian na nDraoithe

Gingko

Gumbi wrote: »

If just like to clarify that Celtic isn't actually a language, rather a family of languages, of which Irish is one.

Yep well aware of that! But the Celts did have more or less a mutual word for it at one point.

Gingko

So what's the general conclusion with everything that has been said? To wish your friends the best for the winter solstice what are we going with? Perhaps we can take a vote and go with that for now?

Gingko

An Sionnach Glic wrote: »

Fair enough. Well I suppose it's up to the OP in the end which they think most appropriate.

Not up to me at all! Have far too much respect for our native tongue to just blurt out any old thing! Accurate would be good!