Irish calendar
The Irish calendar does not observe the astronomical seasons (beginning, in the Northern Hemisphere, on the equinoxes and solstices), or the meteorological seasons (beginning on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1), but rather follows the seasons of the ancient Celts (see below) which are pre-Christian in origin. This is particularly evident in the Irish naming of many of the months: some names, like May (Bealtaine), August (Lughnasadh)/LÃÂúnasa and November (Samhain, in the form of MÃÂàna Samhna) were the names of pagan Celtic festivals. In addition, the names for September and October (MeÃÂán FÃÂómhair and Deireadh FÃÂómhair respectively) translate directly as "middle of autumn" and "end of autumn".
Seasons
Winter (end)
January - EanÃÂáir
Spring
(February, March and April)
February - Feabhra
March - MÃÂárta
''The last days of March and the first three days of April are known as The Old Cows Days/The Days of the Brindled Cow or, in the Irish language, Laethanta an BÃÂó Riabhaigh.
April - AibreÃÂán
Summer
(May, June and July)
May - Bealtaine
The first Monday in May is a public holiday.
June - Meitheamh
The first Monday in June is a public holiday.
July - IÃÂúil
Autumn
(August, September and October)
August - LÃÂúnasa
The first Monday in August is a public holiday.
September - MeÃÂán FÃÂómhair
October - Deireadh FÃÂómhair
The last Monday in October is a public holiday.
Winter (start)
(November, December and January see above)
November - MÃÂÃÂ na Samhna
December - MÃÂÃÂ na Nollag
Calendar terms in Irish language
Days of the Week - Laethanta na Seachtaine
Seasons of the Year - RÃÂáithÃÂàna Bliana/Na SÃÂéasÃÂúir
Religious Seasons - SÃÂéasÃÂúir Creidimh
Holidays and Holydays - FÃÂéilte na Bliana
Movable Feasts - Na FÃÂéilte Reatha