2026 Day 307

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Seyth

De Meurth, tryja mis Dû

Tuesday, 3rd November

Ma kelynen vian dhe nei, war ladn. Ma delkyow dûlas dhedhy, saw nag eus greunen veth. Martesen re yonk ew hei. Herwedh ûsadow, ma flourys gwydn dhe'n kelyn cowldevys. E'n curl Sowsnek ma greun gwydn, maga wydn avel an leth. Bès nag eus rîm rag "leth" e'n curl Kernôwek, etho thera nei ow ûsya "rew" rag rîm rag "Duw". E'n lowarth e'n mettyn tho an gwels maga wydn 'vel an rew, saw nag o hebma rew. Tho glouth.

We have a little holly tree, on a bank. It has dark green leaves, but there is not a single berry. Perhaps it is too young. Usually, the fully grown holly has white flowers. In the English carol there are white berries, as white as milk. But there is no rhyme for "milk" in the Cornish carol, so we use "frost" for a rhyme for "God". In the garden in the morning the grass was as white as the frost, though this is not frost. It is dew.

2026 Day 306

2026 DedhTrei Hans ha Whegh

De Lün, nessa mis Dû
Monday, 2nd November

Da ew genam an curl ma dhort Sent Dey, ogas dhe Redrudh. Curl meurgerys ew en Kernow. Da ew genen an kelynen - hemm ew agan gwedhen Nadelik. Scrifys o en Sowsnek, bes nebes tüs a dreylyas an geryow dhe Gernowek. Ma moy es üdn vercyon. Otta onan anodhans.

I like this carol from St Day, near to Redruth. It's a popular carol in Cornwall. We like the holly tree - this is our Christmas tree. It was written in English, but some people translated the words to Cornish. There is more than one version. Here's one of them.

Curl Sent Dey

 

Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,

And Mary she bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk: 

1. Greun gwydn eus dhe’n kelyn, `ga wydn `vel an rew,

Ha dinethys veu Jesus, an üdn Mâb Duw. 

          (pednposorn)

 

Chorus: And Mary she bore Jesus our Saviour for to be,

And the first tree that's in the greenwood, it was the holly.

Holly! Holly!

And the first tree that's in the greenwood; it was the holly! 

Ha Jesus ew ’gan Salvador, agan pernas der y woos,

Ha’n kelyn o an kensa dhe devy e’n coos,

Kelyn, Kelyn,

Ha’n kelyn o an kensa dhe devy e’n coos.

 

Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,

And Mary she bore Jesus, who died on the cross:

Chorus 

2. Greun glas eus dhe’n kelyn, ’ga las ’vel an gwels,

Ha Maria dheg Jesus, a verwas dhe’n crows. 

          (pednposorn)

 

Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,

And Mary she bore Jesus, who died for us all:

Chorus

3. Greun dû eus dhe’n kelyn, ’ga dû ’vel an glow,

Ha Maria dheg Jesus, veu gorrys en vow. 

          (pednposorn)

 

 Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,

Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:

Chorus

4. Greun rüdh eus dhe’n kelyn, ’ga rüdh ’vel an ros,

Ha Maria dheg Jesus a dhassorras e’n nos. 

          (pednposorn)

2026 Day 305

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Pemp

De Sül, kensa mis Dû
Sunday, 1st November

Ma moy a sansow en Kernow avel en Nev. Henn ew lavar coth. Hedhyw thew "Allantide". Martesen thew hedna an kensa dedh a wav, Du Calan Gwav. Po martesen ew Degol Sen Alain, epscop Breten Bian nanj ew pemdhek cansbledhen. Ma eglos sacrys dhodho ogas dhe Truro.  

There are more saints in Cornwall than in Heaven. That is an old saying. Today is Allantide. Perhaps that is the first day of winter, "Du Calan Gwav". Or perhaps it is the feast day of St Alain, a Breton bishop fifteen centuries ago. There's a church dedicated to him near Truro.

2026 Day 304

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Pajar

De Sadorn, üdnegves warn ügens mis Hedra
Saturday, 31st October

Thera meur a whel dhe wil en chei hedhyw, bes res veu dhebm tremena radn a'n termyn e'n lowarth. Ma'n crow bian ow tisfygya. Herdhys ewa a-drenewen, gen gwredhow meur an wedhen diwredhys. Thera daffar disqwedhyans coth an bagas art e'n crow - clòjyow, framys, plankys, bordys gwydn, emesk an kenis blewek ha gohy ow còsca. Res veu dhe nei trouvya neb le aral rag aga gwitha, ke veu othom a dowla neppeth dhe ves. Na ellen sawya an crow. Saw a vedh possybyl dhe sawya an glesin?

There was a lot of work to do in the house today, but I had to spend some of the time in the garden. The small shed is collapsing. It is being shoved sideways, by the great roots of the uprooted tree. The art group's old exhibition equipment was in the shed - racks, frames, trestle tables, white boards, among the hairy spiders and sleeping wasps. We had to find some other place for keeping them, though it was necessary to throw something away. We cannot save the shed. But will it be possible to save the lawn?

2026 Day 303

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Trei

De Gwener, degves warn ügens mis Hedra

Friday, 30th October

Sqwithys o vy. Gellys ew an hav. An enawel ew gorfednys. Cosel ew an gewer. Thew termyn blewek  a'n vledhen. An Kehesnos a veu passyes genen. Martesen, avorow a vedh moy dhe les. Ma nos avorow ow tallath "Allantide". Ma othom dhebm a Avalow Allantide, rüdh ha brâs, rag an flehes wydn. Nos Calan Gwav henwys ew gen radn a'n bobel. Trenja a vedh Degol a'n Ollsens po Du Halan Gwav. Ma hanter tewal a'n vledhen ow tallath. My a dal gwil lugarn turnypen po lugarn pompyon! 

I am bored. The summer has gone. The storm has finished. The weather is quiet. It is a boring time of year. We have passed the Equinox. Perhaps, tomorrow will be more interesting. Tomorrow night begins "Allantide". I need some big red Allantide Apples for the grandchildren. It's called Halloween by some people. The day after tomorrow will be All Saints Day or the First Day of Winter. The dark half of the year begins. I should make a turnip lantern or a pumpkin lantern!

 

2026 Day 302

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Dew
De Yow, nawes warn ügens mis Hedra
Thursday, 29th October

Edrek! Re skith o vy. My a vedn scrifa moy avorow. My a veu pur vesy hedhyw ha lebmyn res ew dhebm còsca. 

Sorry! I am too tired. I will write more tomorrow. I was very busy today and now I must sleep.

2026 Day 301

2026 Dedh Trei Hans hag Onan

De Merher, ethves warn ügens mis Hedra
Wednesday, 28th October

Ma'n dedhyow ow treylya cotta, ma'n nosow ow treylya hirra ha ma'n gewer ow treylya lacka. Nag ew henwyn an misyow ow tos pur lôwen! Mis Dû ha mis Kevardhû (kewer dhû). Ma nebes teleryow gen henwyn moredhek ewedh. Ma othom a gefewy rag drei nebes lôwender. 

The days are becoming shorter, the nights are becoming longer and the weather is becoming worse. The names of the coming months are not very happy! mis Dû = black/dark month

mis Kevardhû (kewer dhû) = black/dark weather. There are some places with gloomy names too. A party is needed to bring some cheer.

BALDHU (Kea) Bal Du “black/dark mine-workings” 

BALDHU (Ludgvan) Bal Du “black/dark mine-workings” 

CARDEW (Trevalga) (Cartheu 1327) 8 Cardhu/Kerdhu “black/dark fort” 

CARDEW (Warbstow) (Carthu 1334) Cardhu/Kerdhu “black/dark fort” 

CARTHEW (St  Austell) Cardhu/Kerdhu “black/dark fort” 

CARTHEW (Wendron) Cardhu/Kerdhu “black/dark fort” 

TRETHEW (Trethu c1120) Tredhu “black/dark farm” 

TREW ( (Breage) (Trethu 1284) Tredhu “black/dark farm” 

BARLENDEW (Barlendu 1304) Barlendu “summit of a dark strip-field” 

BODUEL (Botuwel 1244) Bo’tewal (OC) ?“dark dwelling” 

GWEALDUES (Gweale due 1691) Gwel Du “dark/black field” 

LANDUE (Landu c1210) ?Nantdu (OC) “dark valley|” 

LANJEW (Withiel) (Lendu 1356) Lendu “dark strip-field” 

MENADUE (Tintagel, St Cleer, Talland,St Breward) Mene’ Du “dark hillside” 

MENADUE (Luxulyan) (Menethdu 1279) Menydh Du “dark hillside” 

MENERDUE (Menethdu 1356) Menydh Du “black/dark hillside” 

PENDAVEY (Penduwy 1310) Penduy “head of the river Dewey (dark river)” 

POLDEW (Poldu 1446) Poldu “dark pool” 

POLSUE (Philleigh) (Bossue 1538) Bosdu “black/dark dwelling” 

POLSUE (St Clement) Poldu “black/dark pool” 

RETEW (Retteu 1320) ?Retdu (OC) ?“dark ford”