Around Christmas time, you may see Gaelic art or hear Gaelic-inspired
songs. Discover this rich culture with the following activities. Start with
watching a Scottish Gaelic Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8v0_Hj_cG4
and learn Christmas words in Gaelic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDg_6CT87tI
CONNECT:
- Football means different things in different countries. Gaelic football is the most popular spectator sport in Ireland. See this explanation of this form of football at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSOe-USZzok
- Gaelic is a Scottish language related to Irish. Find out about its history and use at https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_language
- Gaelic first names started in the 4th century and still continue; see the variety at http://www.babynames.net/all/gaelic
- With English rule in Ireland, Gaelic language was threatened. So in the late 1800s, its culture was revived. Learn about those efforts then and now at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-revival.html
- Watch Irish Gaelic dancing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F__a-30Axc4
CREATE:
- Learn simple Gaelic online at https://learngaelic.net/lg-beginners/index.jsp
- Learn traditional songs as a family activity at https://www.gaelic4parents.com/nip/listen-and-sing
- You too can sing Gaelic. This is a song about emigration from Scotland: https://learngaelic.scot/beginners/beagairbheag/songs/illean/index.jsp
- The Celtic cross has it’s beginning in Gaelic Ireland. Discover its meaning at http://www.gaelicmatters.com/celtic-cross-meaning.html. Try your hand making your own.
CARE:
- Learn Celtic and Irish Christmas blessings in Gaelic at: http://www.celticchristmasmusic.com/christmas-traditions/learn-celtic-irish-christmas-blessings-in-gaelic.htm
- How about using drama to learn a language or share a culture? See a Gaelic nativity play as an example: http://gaelic.co/gaelic-nativity/
- Color Celtic art (https://www.colorwithfuzzy.com/celtic-coloring-pages.html), and give it to a friend.
- Try writing with the Irish Gaelic alphabet; it looks great on holiday cards that you can make for others: http://www.gaelicmatters.com/gaelic-written-alphabet.html
CAREERS:
Learning other languages can broaden your career options. You can also
use knowledge about Gaelic history and art can also lead to lifelong work.
