Dedh Trei Hans ha Deg

De Merher, wheffes mis Dû

Wednesday, 6^th November

Thera nei e'n hanter dû an vledhen. An mis ma ew an mis dû warlergh y hanow (ke nag ew hedna vas en Australy!) ha'n nessa mis a vedh mis a gewer dû. En Kernow ma 'gan dedhyow o tos cotta ha môy yeyn. (Môy gleb ew devry.) An sêson ew rag golowow – dhe vesya an tewlder ha daskelwel an howl martesen. Dres lies cansbledhen anowys veu tanyow brâs – tanjysyow – war an diwedh mis Hedra ha dallath mis Dû – Samhain e'n vledhen Keltek. Terweythyow nekevys ew an reson. Excûss ew dhe gawas kefewy! En Poloyn cantolyow ew tinys en corladnow rag disqwedhes revrons dhe'n re marow. Òbma flehes a gar bos tòllwiskys rag Nos Calan Gwav – otta gwragh scrüthus ha corf eskern pur wheg. Ma clowys genam nebes tanow creft bes nag eus gwelys genam tra veth na whath.

We are in the dark half of the year. This month is the dark month according to its name (though that's not appropriate in Australia!) and next month will be a month of black weather. In Cornwall our days are getting shorter and colder. (It's certainly wetter.) It's the season for lights – to chase away the darkness and call back the sun perhaps. Through many centuries big fires – bonfires - were lit at the end of October and the beginning of November – Samhain in the Celtic year. Sometimes the reason is forgotten. It is an excuse to have a party! In Poland candles are lit in cemetaries to show respect for the dead. Here children love being disguised for Halloween – behold a scary witch and a very sweet skeleton. I have heard some fireworks but I haven't seen anything yet.

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

anowys lit, ignited (you can also use tinys < tan fire perhaps)

cotta relative shorter < cott short (used for time)

daskelwel to call back, summon (note das prefix on gelwel to call)

devry certainly (you can also use en certan, sür, diogel, etc.)

fesya to chase away, put to flight (remember dhe ves away)

nekevys forgotten < verb nakevy or ankevy

tanjys bonfire

tewlder darkness < tewl dark (you can also use tewlgow or tolgow )

vas appropriate (you can also use gwev, own or fitty)

warlergh according to, after