2022 Day 365

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Pemp

De Sadorn, üdnegves warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 31th December

Theram ow qwitha ort dew flogh wydn, diw gath, üdn kei ha üdn  hogh Gyny. Ma whans dhe nebes esely ow theylû a weles dallath an Vledhen Nowydh. Gwell ew genam mos dhe'n gwely a-varr. Etho my a lavar "Re bo sowena, lôwena ha yehes en Vledhen Nowydh dhe bub onan." Solabres thew Calan an Vledhen gen agan cowetha ha kerens en Âwstraly ha Zelond Nowydh.

I'm looking after two grandchildren, two cats, one dog and one guinea-pig. Several members of my family want to see the start of the New Year. I prefer to go to bed early. So I say "May there be success, happiness and health to everyone in the New Year." Already it's New Year's Day with our friends and relatives in Australia and New Zealand.

2022 Day 364

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Pajar ha Trei Ügens

De Gwener, degves warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Friday, 30th December

Sowena! My a drouvyas ow hamera en copart - dres lycklod cüdhys dhort ow mab wydn feryek en kensa le, nena nakevys. Etho, my alja kemeres foto a'n rüdhek bian ma. Thera va ow mires ortham et ow lowarth. Ev a ganas ha my ow lavürya. Martesen thera va ow còrtos rag bulük ha preves. 

Success! I found my camera in a cupboard - probably hidden from my inquisitive grandson in the first place, then forgotten. So, I could take a photo of this little robin. He was watching me in my garden. He sang as I was working. Perhaps he was waiting for earthworms and insects.

2022 Day 363

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Trei

De Yow, nawhes warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Thursday, 29th December

Ma greun rüdh dhe'n kelyn, bes na ellen nei aga debry. Da lowr ens rag edhyn. En gwav, terweythyow ma whans dhebm a dhebry mor rüdh bes nag ew an sêson còmpes rag mor cala (po sevy) ha moyar rüdh. E'n gwelha pres, my ell perna frûtys an hav rewys. Nag ens mar dha avel frûtys er, saw thens gwell avel tra veth. Warlergh tradicyon, thera nei ow tebry sows ys rüdh gen yar Gyny, saw nag era vy ow tebry kig ha nag eus sows dhebm. My alja cawas ys rüdh sehys. Nei ell perna lies ehen a vor an hav sehys keffres ha'n re rewys.

The holly has red berries, but we can't eat them. They are OK for birds. In winter, sometimes I want to eat red berries but it's not the right season for strawberries (or wild strawberries) and raspberries. Fortunately I can buy frozen summer fruits. They are not as good as fresh fruit, but they are better than nothing. Traditionally, we eat cranberry sauce with turkey, but I do not eat meat and I have no sauce. I could get dried cranberries. We can buy many types of dried summer berries as well as those frozen. 

2022 Day 362

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Dew

De Merher, ethves warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Wednesday, 28th December

Nei a wel an kelyn en nebes curlys. Kelyn ew meurgerys rag termyn Nadelik. Ma "An Kelyn ha'n Idhyow" keffres ha'n Curl Sent Dey.

Otta versyon aral an Curl Sent Dey.

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

Ha dinethys veu Jesus, an üdn Mab Duw.

(pednposorn)

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.

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

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

(pednposorn)

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

Ha Maria dheg Jesus, veu gorrys 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)

We see the holly in several carols. Holly is popular for Christmas time. There is "The Holly and the Ivy" as well as the St Day Carol. Here's another version of the St Day Carol.

Nebes geryow Some words

coos (m) wood

dhassorhas < dasserhy to rise again

glow (m) coal, charcoal

gooj ~ goos (m) > y woos his blood

gwels (m) grass

(pedn)posorn (m) refrain, chorus

rew (m) frost

vow ~ fow (f) cave (grave)

2022 Day 361

2022 Dedh Trei Hans  Trei Ügens ha Wonan

De Meurth, seythves warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 27th December

Ass ew degolyow sqwithüs! Martesen na vedham mar skith avorow. 

How tiring holidays are! Perhaps I won't be so tired tomorrow.

2022 Day 360

2022 Dedh Trei Hans ha Trei Ügens

De Lün, wheffes warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Monday, 26th December

Ma curl a'n Oos Vyctoria rag hedhyw. Metêrn Wenceslas Da a wrüg mires a-ves war an Gool Stefan". Soweth, nag eus treylyans dhebm! Bettegens, na veu Wenceslas metêrn.

There is a Victorian carol for today. Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen". Sadly I have no translation! Anyway, Wenceslas was not a king.

2022 Day 359

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Nawnjek ha Dewgens

De Sül, pempes warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Sunday, 25th December

Du Nadelik a dheuth hag eth! An flehes o lowen gans aga royow. Nag eus tra veth sqwachys whath. Thera boos ha dewes lowr rag pubonan ha na veu nagonan clav po medhow. Na wrüg nagonan ombla po argya. Whath thera nei oll ow cowsel an eyl gen y gila. Henn ew sowena! Ha thew avorow dedh aral.

Christmas Day came and went! The children were happy with their presents. Nothing is broken yet. There was enough food and drink for everyone and nobody was sick or inebriated. Nobody fought or argued. We are all still talking with one another. That is success! And tomorrow is another day. 

2022 day 358

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Etek ha Dewgens

De Sadorn, pajora warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 24th December

Ma Du Nadelik ow tos. Na vedh degòl dhe nei òbma terebo De Sül, bes solabres thera degòlyow hanter-gwav en Kernow. En Pensans e veu Degòl Montol rag an cottha dedh, hag en Porth Enys e veu Nos Tom Bawcock. Keniver termyn en gwav down ma lies golow rag drivya an tewlder dhe ves, ha tüs gwiskys en tòllwisk. Ma mûsek ha dons ha whedhlow (An Gath Porth Enys rag sampel).

Christmas Day is coming. We won't have a celebration here until Sunday, but there were already mid-winter celebrations in Cornwall. In Penzance there was a Mantol Festival for the shortest day, and in Mousehole there was Tom Bawcock's Eve. Every time in deep winter there are lots of lights to drive away the darkness, and people dressed in disguise. There is music and dance and stories (The Mousehole Cat for example).

2022 Day 357

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Seytek ha Dewgens

De Gwener, tryja warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Friday, 23rd December

Ma Nadelik ow tos ha nag eus termyn luck dhebm rag gwil puptra 'car dr'ew res. Da via genam gwil lies tra - bes na ellama! Martesen avorow. 

Christmas is coming and I don't have enough time for doing everything that one must. I'd like to do many things - but I can't! Perhaps tomorrow.

2022 Day 356

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Whetek ha Dewgens

De Yow, nessa warn ugens mis Kevardhû

Thursday, 22nd December

En ymajys a Nadelik nei a wel an Werhes Maria ha'y flehik Jesus. Ma hy goor Josef ena ewedh, keffres ha lies omweler. Nei a wel bügoledh, metêrnedh (po tüs fir) ha eledh. Mons ow trei royow a on arwòdhel, owr, fronkensens hag er. Nei a gan an re ma en curlys Nadelik. Otta radn curl! 

Trei metêrn on an Howldrevel,

Ha 'gans royow a-dhia bell,

Dres bre ha ros, reb carn ha coos,

Dre steren meur y nell:

     A Steren marthys, Steren ras,

     Steren ha dhedhy golow bras,

     Dhe'n howlsedhes 'vel travalyas

     Hembronk nei en rag dhe'n wlas.

In Nativity images we see the Virgin Mary and her little boy Jesus. Her husband Joseph is there too, as well as many visitors. We see shepherds, kings (or wise men) and angels. They are bringing gifts of a symbolic lamb, gold, frankincense and myrrh. We sing of these in Christmas carols. Here's a bit of carol!

2022 Day 355

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Pemdhek ha Dewgens

De Merher, kensa warn ügens mis Kevardhû 

Wednesday, 21st December

Ma pub tra ow chânjya. Agan mab a wrüg chânjya chei. Lebmyn ev a vedh moy nes dhe nei en Kernow. Hedhyw, thew an cottha jorna a'n vledhen. Mantol ew. Mantol lowen dhe whei oll! Ewedh, ma arwòdh an Zodiak ow treylya dhort "An Sether" dhe "An Aver". 

Everything is changing. Our son has moved house. Now he will be closer to us in Cornwall. Today it's the shortest day of the year. It's the Solstice. Happy Solstice to you all! Also, the Zodiac sign is changing from Sagittarius (The Archer) to Capricorn (The Goat).

2022 Day 354

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Peswardhek ha Dewgens

De Meurth, ügensves mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 20th December

Curl Nadelik meurgerys aral, dyllys e'n cres an nawnjegves cansbledhen, ew "Mir emesk ergh an gwav". Creiys o va "An Hymn rag Nadelik". Rag fra o an düs en Oos an Vetêrnes Vyctoria mar kelmys dhe natoledh en gwav yeyn, hag ergh? Nag ew Bethlehem ajonys rag ergh! Martesen thew an ergh arwòdhel. Ma ergh ow tisqwedhes glanythter emesk pehasow an bes.

Otta an kensa gwers ha burdhen:

Mir, emesk an ergh ema

Genys dhen e'n norves-ma,

Omdhisqwedhys ew an On,

Gwres an ambos coth ragon.

Burdhen:  Mettinweth venegys, hayl!

                  Bora an Daspernyas, hayl!

                  Dre Jerusalem canowgh

                  Crist en Bethlem genys ew. 

Another popular Christmas carol, published in the middle of the 19th century, is "See amid the winter snow". It was called "The Hymn for Christmas". Why were the people in the Victorian era so obsessed with a nativity in a cold winter, and snow? Bethlehem is not known for snow! Perhaps the snow is symbolic. Snow represents purity among the sins of the world.

Here's the first verse and chorus.

2022 Day 353

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Terdhek ha Dewgens

De Lün, nawnjegves mis Kevardhû

Monday, 19th December

Curl an bobel meurgerys en Kernow ew "My a wrüg gweles gorhel trei" (Ha my ow sedha war dobmen howlek). Cân pur goth ew hebma, dyllys en kensa en seytegves cansbledhen. Neppeth kehaval a veu kenys en Scottlond en whetegves cansbledhen. Leverys ew dr'o an curl kenys gen tüs bal a Gernow, ow tos emann dhort an tewlder en dadn an dor dhe'n howlsplan awarra.

Otta dew wers.

My a wrüg sedha war dobmen las,

     Nadelik wydn, Nadelik wydn,

En golow an howl, Nadelik wydn,

     Du Nadelik en mettin.

Ha my a wrüg gweles gorhel trei

     En udn wolya ow tremena,

Ha my a wrüg gweles gorhel trei,

     Du Nadelik en mettin.

A popular folk carol in Cornwall is “I saw three ships” (As I sat on a sunny bank). This is a very old song, first published in the 17^th century. Something similar was sung in Scotland in the 16^th century. It is said that the carol was sung by Cornish miners, coming up from the darkness underground to the sunshine above. 

Here are two verses.

2022 Day 352

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dewdhek ha Dewgens

De Sül, etegves mis Kevardhû

Sunday, 18th December

Chenon Doble o bardh an Orsedh (Gwas Gwendron). Ev a guntellas whedhlow ha canow a'n bobel. Onan o Curl Sent Dey, en Sowsnek. Ev a dhescas hedna dhort lowarther en Pensans. An lowarther, henwys Watson, a wrüg desky an curl y honan dhort Thomas Beard, den coth an pluw Sent Dey, nebes bledhednyow moy kens. Watson a brederas dr'o an curl orijinal o en Kernowek, etho ev a'n treylyas. Ha ev a scrifas pajwora gwers. Ma recordyans a Watson ow cana war cylinder cor. Ma nebes treylyansow, otta üdn kensa gwers. Ma erel.

Canon Doble was a bard of the Gorsedh (Servant of Gwendron). He collected folk stories and songs. One was the St Day Carol, in English. He learnt that from a gardener in Penzance. The gardener, called Watson, learnt the carol himself from Thomas Beard, an old parishioner of St Day, several years earlier. Watson thought that the original carol was in Cornish, so he translated it. And he wrote a fourth verse. There is a recording of Watson singing on a wax cylinder. There are several translations, here is one first verse. There are others.

Greun gwydn eus dhe'n gelynen,

     mar wydn avel rew,

Ha dinethys o Jesu,

     an Üdn Mab a Dhuw.

Burdhen:

     Ha Jesu ew Salvador dhen,

            a'gan perna gans y woos,

     Ha'n gelynen o an kensa

            ow tevy e'n coos,

                      Kelynen wydn!

     Ha'n gelynen o an kensa

            ow tevy e'n coos.

http://www.rogerj.co.uk/audio/stday.ram

2022 Day 351

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Üdnek ha Dewgens

De Sadorn, seytegves mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 17th December

Ma nebes curlys scrifys gen benenes. Udn venyn, prydedhes ha scrifores hymnys, o Cecil Frances Alexander. Hei a veu genys en Wordhen, e'n nawnjegves cansbledhen, bes hei a scrifas en Sowsnek. Lebmyn thew hy curlys ha hymnys meurgerys treylyes en lies tavas. Epscop Benson a dhewisas "Kens en Cita Davyth Riel" dhe dhallath y ceremony a naw lesson ha naw curl en Peneglos Truru. An kensa gwers ew kenys gen canor solo.

Otta an kensa gwers en Kernôwek.  

Kens en cita Davyth riel

Bôwjy isel o sevys,

Gens an vabm mayth era gòrrys

En presep hy flogh münys:

An Vabm whar o Maria,

Jesu Crist an flehik-na.

There are several carols written by women. One woman, poetess and hymn writer, was Cecil Frances Alexander. She was born in Ireland, in the 19th century, but she wrote in English. Now her much-loved carols and hymns are translated into many languages. Bishop Benson chose "Once in Royal David's City" to start his ceremony of nine lessons and nine carols in Truro Cathedral. The first verse is sung by a solo chorister.

Here is the first verse in Cornish.

2022 Day 350

2022 Dedh Trei Hans ha Hanter Cans

De Gwener, whetegves mis Kevardhû

Friday, 16^th December

Üdn curl Nadelik meurgerys ew “Nos Taw”, scrifys e'n nawnjegves cansbledhen en Âwstria. E veu scrifys gen pronter yonk wòja an Casow Napoleonek. Whath cottha ewa vel “A-bervedh en Presep”. UNESCO a'n declaras “ertach gonisegethek antavadow”. An gwersyow orijinal ew en Almaynek, bes treylyes ens en moy es trei hans tavas. Lies recordyans re gwres. Ma whedhel. An eglos a veu livys ha'n organ shyndys. Res veu an mester keur seny gytar. Otta an kensa gwers en Kernôwek.

Taw ew an nos, sans ew an nos:

Oll en còsk, oll heb tros.

Lebmyn ow colya en crow, ot an dhew,

Gwerhes ha'y meppik wheg, crüllyes y vlew,

Gòrta en còsk cres an nev! (x2)

Hag otta an curl en Godhalek.

One popular Christmas carol is “Silent Night”, written in the 19^th century in Austria. It was written by a young priest after the Napoleonic Wars. It is even older than “Away in a Manger”. UNESCO declared it an “intangible cultural heritage”. The original verse were in German, but they have been translated into more than 300 languages. Many recordings have been made. There is a story. The church had been flooded and the organ damaged. The choir master had to play guitar. Here's the first verse in Cornish.

And here's the carol in Gaelic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YWqB1O5TE

2022 Day 349

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Naw

De Yow, pemdhegves mis Kevardhû

Thursday, 15^th December

Pandr'ew curl Nadelik an moyha kerys? Martesen thew “A-bervedh en Presep”. Coth lowr ew ev, scrifys en nawnjegves cansbledhen. Piw a'n scrifas? Piw a wör? Dyllys veu va en lever bian rag scolyow Sül en America. An scrifer mûsik o William J. Kirkpatrick, ser predn e'n kensa dallath. Thera whedhel emesk meur a bobel dr'o an cân kenys e'n kensa dallath gen Martin Luther dh'y flehes. Saw nag ew hedna gwir. Nag eus geryow enwejek en Almaynek. Otta an kensa gwers en Kernôwek.

A-bervedh en presep,

heb gwely na lesk,

An Arlòdh bian, Jesu,

en cres ev a gòsk;

Sterednow a'n ebòrn,

a vir war wòles,

An Arlòdh bian, Jesu,

en gora settyes.

What is the most popular Christmas carol? Perhaps it's “Away in a Manger”. It's quite old, written in the 19^th century. Who wrote it? Who knows? It was published in a little book for Sunday schools in America. The music composer was William J. Kirkpatrick, originally a carpenter. There was a story among a lot of people that the song was originally sung by Martin Luther to his children. But that is not true. There are no original words in German. Here is the first verse in Cornish.

2022 Day 348

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens hag Eth

De Merher, pajardegves mis Kevardhû

Wednesday, 14th December

Genys veu an brydedhes Christina Rossetti en mis Kevardhû, ken Nadelik, ha hei a verwas en mis Kevardhû, wòja Nadelik - genesigeth wavek ha mernans gwavek. En mil eth cans trei ügens ha dew, hei a dhescrifas genesigeth gwavek aral en pemp gwers. Lebmyn ma mûsek dhe'n cân ha thew ev curl Nadelik meurgerys, "En Cres an Gwav Garow". Da ew genam cana curlys Nadelik, ke nag eus da genam lev wheg! Otta an kensa gwers.

En cres an gwav garow

     'kyny gwens mar ôr,

Dowr o fast ha marow,

     hornek o an dor.

Ergh a güdhas oll an tir,

      güdhas oll a tir.

En cres an gwav garow,

      nanj ew termyn hir.

The poet Christina Rossetti was born in December, before Christmas, and she died in December, after Christmas - a wintry birth and a wintry death. In 1872, she described another wintry birth in five verses. Now the poem has music and is a popular Christmas carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter". I like singing Christmas carols, though I haven't a sweet voice! Here's the first verse. 

Nebes geryow Some words

cân (m) song, poem 

cres (m) 1. middle, centre: 2. peace

curl (m) carol > curlys (plural)

descrifa to describe

dor (m) ground

dowr (m)  water

fast firm

garow bleak, rough, etc.

genesigeth ~ genejigeth (f) birth

genys born

güdhas (preterite) covered < cüdha

gwavek like winter, wintery < gwav

gwens ~ gwyns (m) wind

gwersyow poem, verses

hornek  like iron < horn

kyny to moan, cry

lev (m) voice

marow dead < merwel

mernans (m) death < merwel

meurgerys much loved, popular

nanj ew ago

ôr freezing cold

prydydh (m) ~ prydedhes (f) poet

termyn hir a long time

tir (m) land

verwas (preterite) died < merwel

2022 Day 347

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Seyth

De Meurth, terdhegves mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 13th December

Et ow lowarth, gellys ew an rew ha'n keserednow. Et y le, leyjek ew ha ma dhen promys a ergh! Kernow ew parys! Ma pemp trònk-carr warn ügens gen grow ha holan rag an vorrow meur. Saw nag eus na grow na holan rag an lies bôwnder ha lies trolergh. Kemerowgh with war droos.

In my garden, the frost and hailstones are gone. Instead, it is muddy and we have a promise of snow! Cornwall is ready! There are 25lorries with grit and salt for the major roads. Though there is neither grit nor salt for the many lanes and many footpaths. Take care on foot.

2022 Day 346

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Whegh

De Lün, dewdhegves mis Kevardhû

Monday, 12th December

Garow ew an gewer hedhyw. Re yeyn ew hei dhe whilas e'n crow! An gòlowow a res gòrtos. Ma howl e'n ebòrn ha ma'n rew ow terlentry. An gwedh ew dû bedn an ebòrn. Radn anodhans ew noth bes ma whath del war wedh bythwer. Ma'n pelednow arhans war an wedhen Nadelik ow tastewydnya gòlowder a'n howl (ha'm gwlânek rüdh!). 

The weather today is harsh. It's too cold to search in the shed! The lights must wait. There's sun in the sky and the frost is sparkling. The trees are black against the sky, Some of them are bare but there are still leaves on evergreen trees. The silver spheres on the Christmas tree reflect the sunlight (and my red woolly!).

Gerva Vocabulary

bythwer evergreen < gwer green

crow (m) shed

dastewydnya to reflect (throw back)

garow rough, bleak, harsh, etc.

gòlowder a'n howl (m) sunlight, sunshine

gwlânek (m) woolly, jumper, etc.

noth bare, naked, nude

pelednow spheres, little balls < pellen (f) 

terlentry to sparkle, twinkle, etc.

2022 Day 345

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Pemp

De Sül, üdnegves mis Kevardhû

Sunday, 11th December

Ma kevys genam lies radn a'n wedhen Nadelik füg dhort an vledhen ew passyes. Ma nebes tegednow arhans ha gwydn ha trei thekheans a bredn dhort agan cothmans en Zelond Nowydh. E'n gwettha pres, na ellama trouvya gòlowow veth. My a wra whilas arta avorow.

I have found a lot of parts of the artificial Christmas tree from last year. There are several silver and white baubles and three wooden decorations from our friends in New Zealand. Unfortunately, I can't find any lights. I will look again tomorrow.

 

2022 Day 344

2022 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Pajar

De Sadorn, degves mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 10th December

E veu whans dhebm mos bys en Falmeth hedhyw, rag cuntellyans scriforyon, saw na veu hedna possybyl. Pur yeyn ew an gewer. Rewys ew an vorrow ha nei a gawas hager gowas geser - gen keserednow mens pesen. Thew pecar'a ergh war an leur. Nag eus bescath gwelys tra veth kehaval gen an keun!

I wanted to go to Falmouth today, for a writers' meeting, but that was not possible. The weather is very cold. The ways are frozen and we had a heavy hail shower - with pea-sized hailstones. It is like snow on the ground. The dogs have never seen anything like it!

Gerva hedhyw Today's vocabulary

cawas (verb) to have, get > preterite a gawas 

cowas (f) shower

hager gawas (f) heavy shower

keser (collective) hail

keserednow hailstones < keseren (f)

kewer (f) weather

mens (m) size

pesen (f) pea < pes (collective)