Fire Festival Tales
From: "Ellen Evert Hopman" Saille333@mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 12:05:51 -0400
Subject: ~Celtic Well stories
I am still compiling a list of traditional stories to recite or read at the Fire festivals. If anyone can contribute to the list I would be most grateful. Here is what I have so far:
Togla (Destructions)
Forbaisi (Sieges)
Imrama (Navigations)
Tochmarca (Courtships)
Aitheid (Elopements)
Fessa (Feasts)
Uatha (Caves)
Tána (Cattle-Raids)
Echtrada (Adventures)
Aideda ( Tragedies)
Catha (Battles)
Airgne (Plunders)
Samhain - Irish Mythology
The Dagda in the Fomorian Camp from the Battle of Mag TuredDagda mating with the Morrigan from the Battle of Mag Tured
Dagda mating with Boann resulting in the birth of Aongus Mac Oc (happened at Samhain)
The Adventures of Nera
The Race of Nemed delivering 2/3's of their milk, corn and children to the Fomorians on Samhain - from the Book of Invasions
The Intoxication of the Ulstermen
Finn slaying Aillen Mac Midhna who sets Tarra on fire each year at Samhain.
Finn kills the Sid on Samhain who killed the men who tried to woo the fairy woman Sid Breg Ele
The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulainn
The Death of Cu Chulainn
Mongfind
The Death of Muirchertach
Death of Diarmaid
Death of Conaire Mor
Death of Cu Roi (killed by Cu Chulainn on Samhain)
The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel
The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon
The Coming of the Sons of Mil (as Donn's death is a major factor)
The Children of Lir
The Death of Cormac
Samhain - Irish Folktales
Stories of the PucaThe Riding of the Fairy Host
Ghost stories
Samhain - Welsh
The Spoils of AnnwnGwion Bach and Taliesin
Courtship: The Courtship of Ferb
Winter is Come
Andrew Bentley translation
My tale for you
Stag snorts
winter pours
gone, the summer
Wind high and cold
shy the sun
low its course
loud the stream
So red the rath
hidden its curves
rudeness has seized
the voice of the greylag
Chill has seized
the wings of birds
a season of ice
That is my tale
Scél lem dúib
dordaid dam
snigid gaim
ro fáith sam
Gáeth ard úar
ísel grían
gair ar rith
rirthech rían
rorúad rath
ro cleth cruth
ro gnab gnáth
giugrann guth
Ro gab úacht
etti én
aigre ré
é mo scél
BELTAINE
May Day
translation by Andrew Bentley
May Day, delightful day
brilliant time of year
birds sing a full lay
before the sun has cast its rays
Loud the cuckoo calls
and nods to the feast of summer
the sickle of the storm ceases
which tore at the branches of the wood
Summer cuts the little stream
swift steeds seek the pools
long spreads the heather
fine fair ferns flourish
Flowers shine from the hawthorn hedge
water flows in smooth currents
bringing sleep to the salt sea
Little strong bees bear
bundles brought from blossoms
The generous mountain carries
lean calves in plenty
Music plays in the woods
harmony bringing healing peace
dust and fog are blown from homes
and from the full lake pool
The cake of well-guarded grain speaks
the high waterfall sings anew
welcome to the warm pool
rustling comes to the reeds
Swallows flit on high
loudness of music pours from the hills
good fodder for beasts in the meadow
wounds inflicted are healed
Leaves spread on beech twigs
the cuckoo calls loud and high
the speckled trout leaps
strong is the swift skirmisher's limb
The strength of men returns
the mighty slopes are young again
Fair are the clear woodlands
fair every great wide meadow
Sweet time of year
gone are the gusts of wicked winter
the forest shines, the waves are wide
all is peaceful, summer is joyous
A flock of birds comes together
in the place where the woman is
chirping in the green meadow
where the green river flows
Fiercely racing, horses run
the thronging crowd stands round
brilliant is the shining marsh
the golden iris is there
Weak is the man who fears noises
the strong man sings out loud
he sings in delight
"May day, delightful day!"
Cétamain cain cucht
rée rosaír rann
canait luin laíd láin
día laí grían gaí gann
Gairid cuí chrúaid den
is fo-chen sam saír
suidid síne serb
I mbi cerb caill chraíb
Cerbaid sam súaill sruth
saigid graig lúath linn
lethaid fota fraích
for-beir folt fann finn
Fúapair sceith scell scíach
im-reith réid rían rith
cuirthir sál súan
tuigithir bláth bith
Beraid beich beg anert
bert bonn bochtai bláith
berid slabrai sliab
feraid seng saidbir sáith
Seinnid caille céol
con-greinn séol síd slán
síatar denn do dinn
dé do loch linn lán
Labraid tragna trénbard
canaid ess n-ard nua
fáilti do linn té
táinic lúachra lúad
Lengait fainnle fúas
imasoich crúas síuil cróich
foirbrid mes máeth méth
innisid loth loíth
Leig lath fath feig
fert ar-cain cuí chrúaid
cuirthirr iasc mbrecc bedc
is balc gedc láith lúaith
Losaid foirbríg fer
óg a mbúaid mbreg mbras
caín cach caille clár
caín cach mag mármas
Melldach rée rann
ro gaíth garb gam
gel ros toirthech tonn
oll síd subach sam
Suirigthir íall én
aim i lean
birthir gort glas
I mbí bras glas gel
Greit mer, imrim ech
im-sernar sreth slúaig
rosáer rath geilestar
ór eilestar úaid
Ecal aird fer fann
fedil fochain ucht
uisse ima-cain
"Cétemain, cain cucht!"