2025 Day 365

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Pemp

De Merher, üdnegves warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Wednesday, 31st December

Ass ew gwydn ow bes! Po martesen my a dal scrifa 'blou ew ow bes'! Ma dhebm dew lever, blou aga maylyansow ha meur a choclat blue maylys. My a vedn redya an levrow ha debry an choclat gen plesour. An levrow ew scrifys an dhew gen benenes, an eyl en mil eth cans hag üdnek ha y gila en diw mil trei warn ügens. Ma tüs yonk troblys ettans. A vedh diwethvaow lowen? 

What bliss! Or perhaps I ought to write 'my world is blue'! I have two books with blue covers and lots of blue-wrapped chocolate. I shall read the books and eat the chocolate with great pleasure. The books are both written by women, one in 1811 and the other in 2023. There are troubled young people in them. Will there be happy endings?

2025 Day 364

 2025 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Pajar

De Meurth, degves warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Tuesday, 30th December

Nadelik ew termyn rag whecter ha larjes. Termyn da ew rag cherites dhe gawas mòna. Ma radn an bobel ow perna nebes cartednow en shoppas alüsenek. Whei ell trouvya cartednow dhort cowethas alüsenek en gorvarhas ewedh.  Mons ow scodhya whithrans e'n matter cleves canker ha desesys erel, gweres dhe'n glevyon, gwitha edhyn ha'n kerthydnedh, ha lies câws vas moy..

Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. It is a good time for charities to get money. Some people buy some cards in charity shops. You can find charity cards in a supermarket too. They are supporting research in the field of cancer and other diseases, helping the sick, protecting birds and the environment, and many other good causes.  

Geryow rag hedhyw Words for today

an glevyon the sick < clevyon < clav (m) patient

cherites charities < cherita ~ charita (m)

cleves canker ~ crang (m) cancer

cowethas alüsenek (m) association for charitable aid

desesys diseases < deses (m)

gorvarhas (f) supermarket

gweres (dhe) to help, assist

gwitha to protect

kerthydnedh ~ kerhydnedh (m) environment

larjes (m) generosity

scodhya to support

shoppa alüsenek (m) charity shop 

           < alüsen (f) charitable gift, alm

whecter (m) kindness

whithrans (m) research

2025 Day 363

 2025 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Trei

De Lün, nawes warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Monday, 29th December

Da ew genam edhyn. Hemm ew aswonys  et ta. Lowen veu vy dhe fanja calander ha cartednow Nadelik gen ymajys a edhyn. War an cartednow, my ell ajon (SWFM aswon) trei rüdhek (onan tednys gen ow noyth), trei fedn gwydn tew ow tegy hattys rüdh gòcky, pajar owrdynk gen bejethow rüdh, ha üdn pednpaly en foto kemerys gen ow howeth.

I like birds. This is well known. I was happy to receive a calendar and Christmas cards with images of birds. On the cards, I can recognise three robins (one drawn by my niece), three fat penguins wearing silly red hats, four goldfinches with red faces, and one bluetit in a photo taken by my friend.

2025 Day 362

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Dew

De Sül, ethves warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Sunday, 28th December

My a gar ow theylû, bes lowender ew sqwithüs. Ma othom dhebm bos moy cosel. My vedn mires ort nebes flows (po bale) e'n televisyon, gosôwes ort mûsek, redya ow lever ha kemeres gogosk. 

I love my family, but festivities are tiring. I need to be quieter. I want to watch some nonsense (or ballet) on the TV, listen to music, read my book and take a nap.

2025 Day 361

 2025 Dedh Trei Hans Trei Ügens ha Wonan

De Sadorn, seythves warn ügens mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 27th December

Coynt ha nebes gwag ew an dedhyow tredh Nadelik ha Nos Calan Gwav. En termyn tremenys, lowender e'n cres an gwav a wrüg  dürya lies dedh. Na alja tiogow gonis e'n gwelyow ha na alja soudoryon ombla. E veu termyn lowr dhodhans! (Nag era diwedh dhe'n whel benenes, heb dout a'n dra.) Thera dewdhek dedh a Nadelik, whath ken thera Nadelik - debry, eva, cana, donsya ha moy!

The days between Christmas and New Year's Eve are strange and rather empty. In time gone by, festivities in midwinter lasted many days. Farmers could not work in the fields and soldiers could not fight. They had enough time! (There was no end to the women's work, of course.) There were twelve days of Christmas, even before there was Christmas - eating, drinking, singing, dancing and more!

2025 Day 360

 2025 Dedh Trei Hans ha Trei Ügens

De Gwener, wheffes warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Friday, 26th December 

Nadelik, an nessa dedh. E veu boos da ha gwin da rag kidnyow Nadelik, fyttyes gen agan gohydh varthys. Ma debrys genen re. Hedhyw nei a dal debry hag eva le. Na veu grügyar de, ha hedhyw nag eus diw düren! E'n gwelha pres. Ma kig yeyn ha bolla' de. Termyn vas ewa hedhyw rag gwary ha gwil gwary mil dabm  gen flehes wydn. My a vedn dallath redya ow lever nowydh. Scrifys ew gen cowethes.

Christmas, the second day. There was good food and good wine for Christmas dinner, prepared by our wonderful daughter-in-law. We have eaten too much. Today we ought to eat and drink less. There wasn't a partridge yesterday and today there are not two turtle doves! Fortunately. There is cold meat and a cup of tea. It's a good time today for playing and doing a jigsaw puzzle with the grandchildren. I shall start reading my new book. It is written by a friend.

2025 Day 359

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Nawnjek ha Dogens

De Yow, pempes warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Thursday, 25th December

Nadelik Lôwen 

Happy Christmas

2025 Day 358

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Etek ha Dogens

De Merher, pajwora warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Wednesday, 24th December

Ma 'ga gool Montol dhe'n düs Pensans. Nag üjy Porth Enys pell dhort Pensans. Ma degol dhe'n düs Porth Enys ewedh - Nos Tom Bawcock. Pandr'ew an daralla? Thera hager gewer rag termyn hir. Na alja pescadoryon mos dhe'n mor. Thera nown ogastei e'n drev. Üdn den bold a gemeras y scath ha cacha pesk lowr, seyth ehen pesk, rag maga pubonan (ken Nadelik). Treylys hengovadh ew crampes 'star-gazey'. Robert Morton Nance a scrifas cân en mil naw cans seyth warn ügens. Antonia Barber a scrifas lever flehes (gen cath) en mil naw cans deg ha pajar ügens. Lebmyn ma'n gòlowow Nadelik ow tisqwedhes cath keffres ha crampes besk - gen pednow puskes ow lagatta ort an ster!

Penzance people have their Mantol festival. Mousehole is not far from Penzance. The people of Mousehole also have a celebration - Tom Bawcock's Eve. What is the story? There was terrible weather for a long time. Fishermen could not go to sea. There was near starvation in the village. One brave man took his boat and caught enough fish, seven sorts of fish, for feeding everyone (before Christmas). Star-gazey pie has become a tradition. Robert Morton Nance wrote a song in 1927. Antonia Barber wrote a children's book (with a cat) in 1990. Now the Christmas lights also show a cat as well as a fish pie - with fish heads staring at the stars.

Otta an cân gen Nance. 

Here's the song by Nance.

Side by side comparison

The original wording

The poem in modern English

A merry plaas you may believe woz Mowsel pon Tom Bawcock's Eve. To be theer then oo wudn wesh To sup o sibm soorts o fesh! Wen morgee brath ad cleard tha path Comed lances for a fry, An then us had a bet o scad an starry gazee py. Nex cumd fermaads, braa thustee jaads As maad ar oozles dry, An ling an haak, enough to maak a raunen shark to sy! A aech wed clunk as ealth wer drunk En bumpers bremmen y, An wen up caam Tom Bawcock's naam We praesed un to tha sky.[3]

A merrier place you may believe Was Mousehole on Tom Bawcock's eve To be there then who wouldn't wish To sup on seven sorts of fish When murgy broth had cleared the path Comed lances for a fry And then us had a bit o' scad And starry gazey pie Next comed fair maids, bra' thrusty jades As made our oozles dry And ling and hake, enough to make A running shark to sigh As each we'd clunk as health were drunk In bumpers brimming high And when up came Tom Bawcock's name We praised him to the sky.[4]

2025 Day 357

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Seytek ha Dogens

De Meurth, tryja warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Tuesday, 23rd December 

Thera nei en termyn tewal. En Kernow thew an nosow hir ha yeyn. Gwav ew. Noor an bes ew kilinys dhort an Howl. Bes pub bledhen ma'n gwenton ow sewya an gwav. An golow a wra dos tre. Tradicyon ew dhe gawas golowow en termynyow tewl an downa. Cantollow war wedhen Nadelik po golowow tredan war dreven hag en lowarthow, thera nei ow kelwel an golow dhe dhos tre.

We are in a dark time. In Cornwall the nights are long and cold. It is winter. The North of the earth is tilted away from the Sun. But every year the spring follows the winter. The light will come back. It's a tradition to get lights in the deepest dark times. Candles on a Christmas tree or electric lights on buildings and in gardens, we invite the light to come back. 

2025 Day 356

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Whetek ha Dogens

De Lün, nessa warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Monday, 22nd December

Otta mis Kevardhû rag agas calander 2026. E vedh termyn hir bys dhe nessa gool rag Mantol, an howlsavla gwav, en Pensans.

Here's December for your 2026 calendar. It will be a long time until the next festival for Mantol, the winter solstice, in Penzance. 

2025 Day 355

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Pemdhek ha Dogens

De Sül, kensa warn ügens mis Kevardhû
Sunday, 21st December

Howlsavla lowen. Otta radn moy an calander rag nessa bledhen. Hedhyw, an kensa dedh a vis Kevardhû, ma dhen an cottha dedh (en Kernow). An tryja dedh warn ügens a vis Gwedngala vedh an jedh ha'n nos an keth hirder.

Happy Solstice. Here's a bit more of the calendar for next year. Today, the twenty-first day of December, we have the shortest day (in Cornwall). On the twenty-third day of September the day and the night will be the same length.

2025 Day 354

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Peswardhek ha Dogens

De Sadorn, ügensves mis Kevardhû

Saturday, 20th December

O vy clav? O vy skith? O vy re goth? O vy benyn dhiek? Hedhyw na vadna vy fittya boos veth. Ow gour ell y wil. Pur growsek o vy. Nag o vy person wheg hedhyw. Avorow a vedh dedh specyal, my a vedh gwell.

Am I ill? Am I tired? Am I too old? Am I a lazy woman? Today I don't want to do any cooking. My husband can do it. I am very bad-tempered. I am not a nice person today. Tomorrow will be a special day, I will be better.

2025 Day 353

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Terdhek ha Dogens

De Gwener, nawnjegves mis Kevardhû

Friday, 19th December

Hedhyw thera vy ow mires orth daffar mûsek rag daralla. Pandr'ew vas rag mos deg hy bloodh? Alja hei seny crowd? Eus othom a crowdys bian dhe flehes? Ma taclow gen kerdyn ow tos en lies shâp ha lies mens. En orchestra ma crowdys, fyllas, chellôs ha basscrowdys, martesen telen (harp).  Ma gitars en band, bes ma ynstrumentys deffrans en powyow erel. Nag eus geryow lowr!

Today I am looking at musical instruments for a story. What is suitable for a ten-year old girl? Could she play a violin? Do children need small violins? Things with strings come in many shapes and many sizes. In an orchestra there are violins, violas, cellos and bases, perhaps a harp. There are guitars in a band, but there are other instruments in other countries. There aren't enough words!

2025 Day 352

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dewdhek ha Dewgens

De Yow, etegves mis Kevardhû

Thursday, 18th December

Scon e vedh an cottha dedh ha'n hirra nos, bes hedhyw theram ow mires orth an keheja dedh ha nos e'n nessa vledhen. Otta mis Gwedngala diw mil whegh warn ügens.

Soon it will be the shortest day and the longest night, but today I am looking at the equinox in the next year. Here's September 2026.

2025 Day 351

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Üdnek ha Dewgens

De Merher, seytegves mis Kevardhû
Wednesday, 17th December

Hedhyw, theram ow mires orth nebes styryansow ha menyngs. Pandr'ew factys? Ew "fact" an keth tra avel "gwiryonedh"? Ma gwiasva dhe bednleder an Statys Ûnyes America henwys "Gwir Sôcyal". Ma opynyons warnedhy. Eus factys veth dhedhy po nag en jei opynyons en üdnek? "Fact" ew kedhlow po skians heb amovyans, bès "opynyon" ew kedhlow movyes gen experyens po gowvreus. "Diskians" ew opynyon dhodho fowt a gedhlow ha skians res, martesen nicita, bes "gòckineth" ew opynyon ow tiscònta po sconya oll an factys. Pandr'ew "drocoleth"? Martesen thew cabmy an factys ha gowleverel.

Today, I am looking at some definitions and meanings. What are facts? Is a fact the same thing as a truth? The president of the USA has a website called "Truth Social". There are opinions on it. Does it have any facts or are they just opinions? "A fact" is information or knowledge without emotion, but "an opinion" is information influenced by experience or prejudice. "Ignorance" is an opinion lacking necessary information and knowledge, perhaps naivety,  but "stupidity" is an opinion which ignores or denies all the facts. What is "wickedness"? Perhaps it is twisting the facts and lying.

 

Gerva rag hedhyw Vocabulary for today

amovyans (m) emotion

cabmy to bend, twist, distort 

discònta to ignore

diskians (m) ignorance

drocoleth wickedness < drog bad

factys facts < fact (m) 

gòckineth (m) stupidity, silliness

gowleverel to lie < gow (m) low, untruth

gwiasva (f) website

gwiryonedh ~ gwrionedh ~ gwir (m) truth

kedhlow information

menyng (m) meaning

movya to influence

nicita (m) naivety

opynyon (m) opinion

pednleder (m) president

sconya to deny 

skians (m)  knowledge  

styryans (m) definition

    

2025 Day 350

2025 Dedh Trei Hans ha Hanter Cans

De Meurth, whetegves mis Kevardhû

Tuesday, 16th December

Theram ow merkys neppeth! E vedh difygyans an howl nessa mis Est. Saw vedh hedna dhe weles en Kernow, po vedh an eborn re gomolek? Pandra wra nei gweles?

I notice something! There will be a solar eclipse next August. But will that be visible in Cornwall, or will the sky be too cloudy? What will we see?

2025 Day 349

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Naw

De Lün, pemdhegves Mis Kevardhû
Monday, 15th December

En termyn an gwav da ew genam pedery rag dhe dermyn an hav. Rag hedna, otta mis Gorefan e'n vledhen nessa.

In wintertime I like to think forward to summertime. Therefore, here's July next year.

2025 Day 348

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens hag Eth

De Sül, pajardegves mis Kevardhû

Sunday, 14th December

Otta kensa gwers curl aral (gen ton spladn). Era ergh en Bethlehem en gwrionedh? 

(Was there really snow in Bethlehem?)

Mir (see), emesk (amid) an ergh (snow) ema (is)

genys (born) dhen (to us) e'n norves-ma (this earth)

omdhisqwedhys (appeared) ew an On (the Lamb),

gwres an ambos (promise) coth ragon (for us).

See amid the win­ter’s snow,

Born for us on earth be­low,

See, the gen­tle Lamb ap­pears,

 
Promised from eter­nal years.

2025 Day 347

2025 Dedh Trei Hans Dogens ha Seyth

De Sadorn, terdhegves mis Kevardhû
Saturday, 13th December

Curlys ew radn an wònisegeth a Gernow. Da o gen tüs bal cana curlys termyn Nadelik. Lies anodhans o composys ha kenys e'n tiredh adro dhe Cambron ha Redrüdh.  Methodydhyon o aswonys avel an Canoryon rag aga herenja a gana curlys ha hymnys warbarth. Lies lever a veu dyllys, en Kernow ha dres mor. Saw an hencov ew pur goth. En mil pemp cans hag eth Elisabeth a Evrok a wrüg pe "to Cornishe for setting of a carolle upon Christmas Day".

Carols are a part of the Cornish culture. Miners liked to sing carols at Christmas time. Many of them were composed and sung in the district around Camborne and Redruth. Methodist were known as the Singers for their love of singing carols and hymns together.  Many books were published, in Cornwall and overseas. But the tradition is very old. In 1508 Elizabeth of York paid "to Cornishe for setting of a carolle upon Christmas Day".