Gàidhlig / English
Adan, Curracan-cinn agus Ceannan-bhàrr

Adan, Curracan-cinn agus Ceannan-bhàrr

Posted by Calum on 28th March, 2024
“Hand me my hat.” “Which hat? What kind?” The Gaels were, and are, very keen on hats, every sort of them, we shall have a look at some of them this week.

The image of the bonnet is very strong in the icon of the Gael since the nineteenth century, as you can see in the different words we have for it: Boineid; Bioraid. We have another word for hats in general, Bras.

In addition to hats we have the "Currac" as well and its place in folklore of the Gael is very strong: “Currac an Rìgh”; “Currac na cuthaige”; “Currac-oidhche”; etc. Besides folklore the "currac" is very strong in idioms and weather-lore: “Bha currac gheal air an tarraing”; “Tha currac air a’ bheinn”; “Tagh do bhean ’s i na currachd-oidhche”; etc.

For a different variety of hats there is the following: Ad àrd; Crùsgan; Adag; Adagan; Ad bobhlair; Ad-mholach; Bòineid-béin; Currac-béin.

In terms of pointed hats we have the Piorraid and Goigean is for a pixie's hat (there is a fear that it would be too small for you, however).

I know full well that we all have a truly old hat that you don't use regularly, or that we use so often that we need to get rid of it, and Sgrogag, Sgrogaid, Sgruigean, Sgalla, or Sgulair depending on the size, that is called for a “ad gun tolg”, as we say.

Hats are very useful to us for work as well, as we can see in the following list: Ad-chogaidh; Ad-chonnlaich; Ad-chruaidh; Àrd-chluasach; Àrd-ghrèine; Bonaid biorach; Currac-easbaig; etc.

Returning to the "Bonaid Bhiorach" for a moment, I will leav you with a proverb heard about the effect a had has on a person's good  appearance: “’S i ’bhonaid bhiorach a nì ’n gille smiorail”. Do you have any more knowledge about hats? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!
Your comment has been submitted for moderation
There are no comments for this post