2025 Day 346

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Whegh

De Gwener, dewdhegves mis Kevardhû

Friday, 12th December

An curl ma a veu scrifys (en Almaynek) pell dhort Kernow,  bes meurgerys ew ev òbma. Meurgerys ewedh ew imajys an Werhes Maria ha'y flogh rag cartednow Nadelik - en lies gis deffrans. 

This carol was written (in German) far from Cornwall, but it is popular here. Images of the Virgin Mary and her child are also popular for Christmas cards - in many different styles.  

NOS TAW 

Silent Night, Holy Night  

Taw (silent) ew an nos! Sans (holy) ew an nos! 

Oll en còsk (sleep), oll heb tros (noise), 

Lebmyn ow colyas (watching over) en crow (shed) ot an dhew (the pair), 

Gwerhes (virgin) ha’y meppik wheg, crüllyes (curly) y vlew  (hair)

Gorta (wait) en còsk cres (peace) an nev (heaven) ! (x2) 

 

Taw ew an nos! Sans ew an nos! 

Gwelyn bügoledh (shepherds) ow mos 

En üdn glowes (hearing) nowodhow (news) pur dha, 

Keur (choir) an nev a gân (sing) alleluya; 

Crist an Dasprenyas (Redeemer) re dheuth (x2) 

 

Taw ew an nos! Sans ew an nos! 

Üdn mab Duw, ot, ow tos 

Dhyworth dha anow (mouth) kerenja ema; 

Pres (time) agan selwans (salvation) ew en eur-ma, 

E’th genesegeth (birth) , A Grist! (x2) 

2025 Day 345

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Pemp

De Yow, üdnegves mis Kevardhû
Thursday, 11th December

In Kernow, da ew genen curlys Nadelik. Terweythyow thew an curlys keswlasek, scrifys gen nebonan en pow aral, saw ma curlys a Gernow ewedh. Otta curl scrifys gen nebonan en Kernow (ma nebes treylyansow).

In Cornwall, we love Christmas carols. Sometimes the carols are international, written by someone in another country, but there are Cornish carols too. Here's a carol written by someone in Cornwall (there are several translations).

Curl Sent Dey  St Day Carol

 1. Greun gwydn eus dhe’n kelyn, 

        maga wydn avel an rew, 

 Ha dinethys veu Jesus, 

        an üdn Mab Duw. 

 (posorn) 

 Ha Jesus ew ’gan Salvador, 

        agan pernas der y woos, (gooj) 

 Ha’n kelyn o an kensa 

        dhe devy e’n coos, 

 Kelyn, Kelyn, 

 Ha’n kelyn o an kensa 

    dhe devy e’n coos. 

 2. Greun glas eus dhe’n kelyn, 

        ’ga las ’vel an gwels, 

 Ha Maria dheg Jesus, 

        a verwas dhe’n grows. 

 (pednposorn) 

 3. Greun dû eus dhe’n kelyn, 

        ’ga dhû ’vel an glow, 

 Ha Maria dheg Jesus, 

        veu gòrrys en vow. 

 (pednposorn) 

 4. Greun rüdh eus dhe’n kelyn, 

        ’ga rüdh ’vel an ros, 

 Ha Maria dheg Jesus 

        a dhassorhas e’n nos. 

 (pednposorn) 

 Nebes geryow Some words 

 coos (m) wood 

 crows > grows (f) cross 

 dinethys (v.a.) born 

 a dhassorhas rose again 

        < dasserhy to rise again 

dheg bore, carried 

        < don/degy to bear, carry

glow (m) coal, charcoal 

gooj ~ goos (m) blood 

        > y woos his blood 

greun berries (collective plural) 

        > sing. greunen 

gòrrys (v.a.) put 

        < vb gòrra 

gwels (collective) grass 

        > sing. gwelsen 

kelyn (m) holly 

kensa first 

(pedn)posorn (m) refrain, chorus 

rew (m) frost 

tevy > dhe devy to grow 

verwas died < vb merwel 

vow ~ fow (f) cave (grave, tomb) 

ST DAY (was Seynt Dey in 1358)       

2025 Day 344

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Pajar

De Merher, degves mis Kevardhû
Wednesday, 10th December

Ma nos an hirra ow tos nes, bes theram ow pedery a'n dedhyow hir ha tòbm a vedn dos nessa mis Efan. Ma whegh mis dhen rag para Seythen Cowsel Kernôwek (Seythen Kewsel Kernewek). Pandr' vedn nei leverel?

The longest night is approaching, but I am thinking of the long hot days that will come next June. We have six months to prepare Speak Cornish Week. What will we say?

2025 Day 343

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Trei

De Meurth, nawes mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 9th December

Hager awel hedhew. Mall ew genam nessa mis Me - howlsplan ha flourys.

Horrible weather today. I'm looking forward to next May - sunshine and flowers.

2025 Day 342

2025 Day Trei Hans Dewgens ha Dew

De Lün, ethves mis Kevardhû
Monday, 8th December

En Peneglos Truru nehewer thera ordenal er cov an düs ew kellys dhen - an düs na vedh genen rag an Nadelik ma. Leun o an peneglos gen pobel ha cantellow. Henwys ew an ordenal "Gòlowowgh Bownans". Thera bandys brest ow seny carolys Nadelik, keur voysys gorow ow cana canow a Gernow. Thera geryow wheg ha pejadow gen an Epscop. Scrîn brâs  a dhisqwedhas henwyn tüs dhe vos remembrys.   

In Truro Cathedral yesterday evening there was a service in memory of the people we have lost - people who will not be with us for this Christmas. The cathedral was full of people and candles. The service was called "Light up a Life". There were brass bands playing Christmas carols, a male voice choir singing songs of Cornwall. There were nice words and prayers by the Bishop. A screen displayed the names of people to be remembered.

2025 Day 341

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens hag Onan

De Sül, seythves mis Kevardhû

Sunday, 7th December 

De a veu dedh specyal rag flehes da en Jermany (Almayn). Eskis glan gerys a-ves dh'aga daras a veu lenwys gen whegow po royow bian erel gans an epscop wheg, Sen Nicholas. Traveth rag flehes drog! Ma termyn lowr dhe owna aga vorrow ken Nadelik (ha Tas Nadelik).

 

Yesterday was a special day for good children in Germany. A clean shoe left outside of their door was filled with sweets or other little presents by the kind bishop, St Nicholas. Nothing for naughty children! There is enough time to mend their ways before Christmas (and Father Christmas).

2025 Day 340

2025 Dedh Trei Hans ha Dogens 

De Sadorn, wheffes mis Kevardhû
Saturday, 6th December

Solabres, ma tesen Nadelik debrys genam. Dallathys ew Nadelik! Ow bagas art a vetyas warbarth en Kresen Gemeneth Ke rag agan kefewy. Afînys o an hel. Pub onan a dhros tabm boos dhe radna. Nei a wrüg debry, eva ha liwya. Thera nebes disqwedhyansow a daclow gwavek rag awen. Lien bord blou po lien bord gwydn, gwedrednow po cantol lestry gwres a weder po cantolbren rüdh ha dûlas, greun rüdh po avalow pin, delkyow gwer po melyn? Dhe nei an dewis! Ha'n dra owriek gen eskelly - el po sperys Nadelik? Owr ha gweder, nag ens es dhe liwya. Martesen, tesen Nadelik war lien bord melyn ha gwydn alja bos esia. Ow pictour vy nag ew pur dha! Ow delkyow ew shâp cabm. Ow cantol ew liw cabm. (Gwell ew genam cantollow rüdh.) Ow avalow pin? Thens moy pecar'a tettys pindy!

I have already eaten Christmas cake. Christmas has begun! My art group met in Kea Community Centre for our party. The hall was decorated. Everyone brought a bit of food to share. We ate, drank and painted. There were several displays of wintery things for inspiration. A blue table-cloth or a white table-cloth, glasses or candlesticks made of glass or a red and dark green candlestick, red berries or pinecones, green or yellow leaves? The choice was ours! And the golden thing with wings - an angel or a Christmas fairy? Gold and glass, they aren't easy to paint. Perhaps Christmas cake on a yellow and white table-cloth could be easier. My picture is not very good. My leaves are the wrong sort. My candle is the wrong colour. (I prefer red candles.) My pine cones? They're more like mouldy potatoes!