A Year of Late Cornish Day 243

Dew Cansves Dedh Dew Ügens ha Trei

De Sadorn ew, an kensa dedh a vis Gwedngala.

It’s Saturday, the 1^st day of September.

En Sowsnek thew an mis-ma gelwys warlergh an seythves mis an calander Roman coth. Saw mis Gwedngala “September” ew an nawhes mis agan calander, nag ew an seythves mis. Rag fra? Calander soudoryon Roman a dhiwedhes gen mis Meurth – na wrüg soudoryon Roman ombla en gwav! En pecar maner nessa mis a vedh an ethves mis “October”, ha òja hedna e vedh an nawhes mis “November” ha’n degves mis “December”. Ha rag fra “Gwedngala” en Kernôwek? Òja an drevas thew an prasow leun a gala. Nag ew gwydn poran bes disliw ew en tevry.

In English this month is named after the seventh month of the old Roman calendar. But September is the ninth month of our calendar; it’s not the seventh month. Why? The Roman soldiers’ calendar began with March – Roman soldiers didn’t fight in winter! Similarly next month will be the eighth month “October” and after that there will be the ninth month “November” and the tenth month “December”. And why “white/fair straw” in Cornish? After the harvest the fields are full of straw. It is not exactly white but it is certainly faded.