2026 Day 316

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Whetek

 

De Yow, dewdhegves mis Dû

Thursday, 12th November

An üdnegves dedh a vis Dû, an üdnegves eur, nei a wrüg remembra oll an düs a wrüg merwel en gwerryans. Rag fra an jedh na ha'n eur na? Drefen bos e'n eur na an godnys a godhas còsel e'n Kensa Gwerryans an Bes. Lies a veu cuntellys gen Kitchener. Famos ew an poster ma, gen bes ow poyntya tûa miroryon. Thera othom dhe'n pow a düs dhe ombla. Farage a wrüg war y lergh, ke nag eus minvlew dhodhans! Ma othom dhodho a esely rag y barty polityk. Nag eus othom dhe'n pow anodho.

On the eleventh day of November, at the eleventh hour, we remembered all the people who died in warfare. Why that day and that time? Because then the guns fell silent in the First World War. Many were recruited by Kitchener. This poster is famous, with a finger pointing towards viewers. The country needed people to fight. Farage copied him, though he doesn't have a moustache! He needs members for his political party. The country does not need him.

2026 Day 315

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Pemdhek

De Merher, üdnegves mis Dû
Wednesday, 11th November

Devedhys ha gellys arta ew Nos Calan Gwav. An flehes wydn a liwyas aga fompyonow, bes lebmyn forsakys ha nakevys ens. Nag eus whans dhe'n flehes a dhebry pompyon. Nag ew da gena vy crampes bompyon (re wheg ew ha na ellama debry tos).  Bettegens, my ell fittya badna cowl pompyon (heb has ha heb rüsk). Nag eus meur a sawor dhe bompyon, etho my a wra ûsya onyon ha tomato ewedh. Hebma a vedh le blewek.

  

Halloween has come and gone again. The grandchildren painted their pumpkins, but now they are abandoned and forgotten. The children don't want to eat pumpkin. I do not like pumpkin pie (it is too sweet and I can't eat pastry). However, I can prepare a drop of soup (without seeds and without rind). Pumpkin doesn't have much flavour, so I will use onion and tomato as well. This will be less boring.

2026 Day 314

 2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Peswardhek

De Meurth, degves mis Dû

Tuesday, 10th November

Terweythow ma nerth lowr dhebm dhe wil meur a whel. De a veu jorna a'n par na. Hedhyw, nag eus nerth dhebm ha na ellama gwil tra veth! Ma othom a wil whel e'n lowarth, saw hager ew an gewer ha gwell via genam gòrtos e'n chei. My a wra redya.

Sometimes I have enough energy to do a lot of work. Yesterday was a day like that. Today, I do not have any energy and I can't do anything! Work needs to be done in the garden, but the weather is horrible and I'd prefer to stay in the house.  I'm going to read.

2026 Day 313

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Terdhek

De Lün, nawes mis Dû

Monday, 9th November

Ajwonys ew Towynblistra rag morplaynya, ha meurgerys ew gen tüs neb a gar an mor. Bès, terweythyow ma othom dhe flehes a neppeth deffrans, neppeth moy saw. Mons ow tos òbma rag gwary ha cawas festow pedn-bloodh. Ma romys party rag debry an desen pedn-bloodh. Nag eus cübmyas rag boos (na skichow) war dhaffar gwary. Anjei ell daslebmel war drampolins. Anjei ell lappya adhort tour po slynka a-bera dhe pibow war nans bys en neppeth medhel. Anjei ell crambla ha cramya dres cawallow. Anjei ell mantoly war estyl ahes heb own a godha. Ma pyttys a gûbys ruber medhel. Da ewa rag aga gallos gwayans, ha mons ow spendya oll aga nerth re. Da ew hedna gen an düs gowldevys!   

Newquay is famous for surfing, and popular with people who love the sea. But, sometimes, children need something different, something safer. They come here to play and have birthday parties. There are party rooms for eating the birthday cake. No food (or shoes) is allowed on play equipment. They can bounce on trampolines. They can leap off a tower or slide down inside tubes to something soft. They can climb and crawl through cages. They can balance along ledges without fear of falling. There are pits of soft rubber cubes. It is good for their motor skills, and they use up all their excess energy. The grown-ups like that! 

2026 Day 312

 2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Dewdhek

De Sül, ethves mis Dû

Sunday, 8th November

Ass ew teg an lowarth e'n mettin a-varr. Otta an howl adhelher dhe'm baywedhen, ow creatya lies golôwas howl dres an scorednow.  Ma'n gwels ow terlentry gen adamantys a rew ha glouth. Ev a veu kensa rew an sêson. Ma va ow teudha e'n tobmder an howl. Na wra va dürya pell. Ma'n kei a gar spladna an howl magata.

How beautiful the garden is in the early morning. See the sun behind my baytree, creating many sunbeams through the branches. The grass is sparkling with diamonds of frost and dew. It was the first frost of the season. It is thawing in the warmth of the sun. It will not last long. The dog loves sunshine as well.

2026 Day 311

2026 Dedh Trei Hans hag Üdnek

De Sadorn, seythves mis Dû

Saturday, 7th November

Eus pejadow dhe'n Werhes Maria en textys coth? Ew Maria creies Metêrnes an Nev, leun a ras? O Maria golohes pecar'a diwes pagan? A alja hei gwil merklys? Pandr'ella nei diskevra a'n fedh pobel Kernow? O an Werhes Maria a bris dhe'n düs ow mires ort gwary mir? An qwestyons ma a veu radn bian an kescussülyans Skians hedhyw. 

Are there prayers to the Virgin Mary in old texts? Is Mary called Queen of Heaven, full of grace? Was Mary worshipped like a pagan goddess? Could she work miracles? What can we discover of the  faith of the Cornish people? Was the Virgin Mary important to the people watching a miracle play? These questions were a small part of the Skians conference today.

 

2026 Day 310

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Deg

De Gwener, wheffes mis Dû
Friday, 6th November

Na wrüga vy gweles tanow creft veth newher. Na aljama mos mes. Bes my a glowas lies tardhow bian e'n lowarth ow hentrevogyon gen flehes (ken termyn mos dhe'n gwely!). My a glowas nebes moy anodhans moy diwedhes nep pell, wòja termyn degea an tavern. Hedhyw thew an awel cosel. Nag eus na gwens na glaw. Terweythyow ma ayrplayn üdn jynn po bargas (helicopter) sawya ow tremena a-ûgh. Dhort termyn dhe dermyn an bagas brâs a vriny tre e'n gwedh hir ew trosüs, ha nena ma'n edhyn ow neyja dhe ves. A-dhelher dhe'n ke my ell clowes kentrevik et y grow nowydh. Ma dhodho morthol ha tarder. Pana dermyn a vedn ev gorfedna?

I didn't see any fireworks last night. I couldn't go out. But I heard a lot of little explosions in the garden of my neighbour with children (before bedtime!). I heard some more of them later at some distance, after pub closing time. Today the weather is quiet. There is neither wind nor rain. Sometimes a single-engined aeroplane or a rescue helicopter crosses overhead. From time to time the big group of rooks in the tall trees is noisy, and then the birds fly away. Behind the hedge I can hear a neighbour in his new shed. He has a hammer and a drill. When will he finish?

Gerva rag hedhyw Vocabulary for today

bargas (colloquial = buzzard) ~ helicopter

briny tre rooks < bran dre (f)

degea to close

diwedhes late

gorfedna to finish

kentrevik (m) neighbour > (pl) kentrevogyon

morthol (m) hammer

tanow creft fireworks

tarder (m) drill

tardhow explosions < tardh ~ tarr (m)

trosüs noisy

2026 Day 309

2026 Dedh Trei Hans ha Naw

De Yow, pempes mis Dû
Thursday, 5th November

Nag o an Metêrn, Henry VIII, lôwen en mil pemp cans terdhek warn ügens. Na wrüg y wreg drûan, Catherine, don mab ragtho, mergh, Mary, en üdnek. Na venja an Pap grontya didhemedhyans dhodho, etho, ev a wrüg diberra dhort an Eglos Rom. Ev a dreylyas pedn Eglos Pow an Sowson. Wòja hedna, thera own dhodho rag lûyow lestry Pow Frenk ha Pow Spayn, powyow catholik. Ev a dherevas nebes castilly adro dhe'n als. Onan ew Castel Pendinas en Falmeth, gorfednys en mil pemp cans dogens ha pemp. Peder bledhen wòja hedna e veu Rebellyans an Lever Pejadow. Nag era whans dhe'n bobel Kernow a lever pejadow en Sowsnek. Thera strîf tredh Catholigyon ha Anglicanys rag lies bledhen. En mil whegh cans ha pemp e veu metêrn nowydh ha nebes catholigyon a gònsylyas warbarth dhe dardha an Senedh ha Metêrn James I. Henn o an Plott Podn Godn heb sowyn. Rag fra ew hedna dhe les hedhyw? Dreven e vedh disqwedhyans tanow creft hanath en Castel Pendinas. E'n gwettha pres, glaw a wra. 

The King, Henry VIII, was not happy in 1533. His unhappy wife, Catherine, hadn't borne him a son, only a daughter, Mary. The Pope wouldn't grant him a divorce, so he broke away from the Church of Rome. He became head of the Church of England. After that he was afraid of fleets from France and Spain, catholic countries. He built some castles around the coast. One is Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, finished in 1545. Four years after that there was the Prayer Book Rebellion. The Cornish people did not want a prayer book in English. There was conflict between Catholics and Anglicans for many years. In 1605 there was a new king and some catholics plotted to blow up Parliament and King James I. That was the unsuccessful Gunpowder Plot. Why is that interesting today? Because there will be a firework display tonight at Pendennis Castle! Unfortunately, it's raining.

2026 Day 308

2026 Dedh Trei Hans hag Eth

De Merher, pajwora Mis Dû

Wednesday, 4th November

Agan laundrys ew leun a dhel marow, dhort an enwedhen en lowarth kentrevoges dres ehen. Ow gour a gramblas skeyl rag tedna anjei mes. Na vedn nei an glaw dhe vedna war an vosow. E'n gwettha pres, whath ma del war oll an colwedh. An laundrys a wra gorlenwel arta e'n nessa enawel. E'n gwelha pres, na vedn an gelynen kelly hy del.

Our launders (roof gutters) are full of dead leaves, especially from the ash tree in a neighbour's garden. My husband climbed a ladder to pull them out. We don't want the rain to overflow on the walls. Unfortunately, there are still leaves on all the hazel trees. The launders will overfill again in the next storm. Fortunately, the holly won't lose its leaves.

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”