Hi John, thanks for stopping by. So glad to hear you are enjoying the Twelve Days. I will pass on your feedback to Ciarán. Nollaig Shona Daoibh to you and your family.
Twelve Days of Irish Words and Phrases: The Irish for Gift
Written by Ciaran on Dec 04, 2024 | 2 Comments
We are on day 4 of our Twelve Days of Irish Christmas. Inspired by that traditional carol, and the funny Irish version, Christmas Countdown, we're bringing you Twelve Days of Irish Christmas (Words).
How To Say "Gift" In Irish?
It is certainly not what it's all about, but just like everywhere else in the world Christmas in Ireland involves plenty of gifts. In Irish, a gift is bronntanas (brun-ta-niss) while gifts are bronntanais (brun-tuh-nish).
Gift-giving in Ireland is a regular occurrence - and the Irish are notoriously generous folk - but it steps up several notches around Christmas! There are gifts for the person who delivers your milk, the bin collectors, the "postie", your children's teachers, and anyone else who might make your life better day to day! Small businesses might give loyal customers a "Christmas box," and people often give gifts at work. Most people also have a favourite charity they support around this time of year, too.
An ink drawing by William Brunton, 1854 depicting "Christmas Morning in an Irish Country Shop - Giving the Customary Present"
And you'd want to be sure that when invited to a friend's or relative's home over Christmas, you bring a small gift for the host. There is a particularly charming word for a small gift in Irish—Féirín (FAYR-een) or Féiríní (FAYR-een-yee) if you have multiple small pressies!
You definitely do not want to be seen "coming with one arm as long as the other" - a particularly Irish way of saying don't arrive as a guest empty-handed! The logic goes that if you are carrying a gift, one arm seems longer than the other!
And this is all before you get gifts for friends and family. So even though they are not the be-all and end-all, presents are a big deal at Christmas in Ireland!
What's Next?
Check back in with us tomorrow for Day 5 of our Twelve Days of Irish Christmas, or open door number 4 of our 12 Days of Christmas offers! And, of course, if you need any help selecting a féirín for yourself or a loved one, please do get in touch!
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Ciaran
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments
Ask Gemma
I am enjoying the Twelve Days of Irish Words and Phrases in your emails. I pass them along to my family.
Nollaig Shona Daoibh,
John O'Leary