Series Overview
Na Féilte Tine (The Fire Festivals) is a four-part series exploring the four indigenous Irish festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine and Lúnasa. The festivals have been celebrated for millennia in Ireland and this series will explore their history and continual evolution as they respond to the spiritual and communal needs of the Irish in the 21st century. The symbolism and mythology central to the festivals will be examined, and will explore the impact that these ancient traditions have on Irish culture and identity.
Each programme will mirror the cyclical nature of the Wheel of the Year. Samhain to welcome the start of Winter and the new year, Imbolg to welcome Spring, Bealtaine to celebrate the beginning of Summer and Lúnasa to herald the Autumn harvest. Throughout the series in cities and towns we will see communities come together to celebrate these ancient traditions.
Contributors include the writers Michael Harding, Patricia Forde, Manchán Magan, sean nós singer and folklore scholar Lillis Ó Laoire and dancer, farmer and folklorist Edwina Guckian.
Na Féilte Tine, sraith cheithre chlár a dhéanann iniúchadh ar na féilte dhúchasacha Éireannacha: Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine, agus Lúnasa. Tá na féilte á gceiliúradh ar feadh na mílte bliain in Éirinn, agus sa tsraith seo, déanfaimid iniúchadh ar a stair agus ar a n-éabhlóid leanúnach de réir mar a fhreagraíonn siad do riachtanais spioradálta agus pobail mhuintir na hÉireann sa 21ú haois. Déanfar scrúdú ar an tsiombalachais agus an mhiotaseolaíocht atá lárnach sna féilte, agus fiosróimid an tionchar atá ag na traidisiúin ársa seo ar chultúr agus ar fhéiniúlacht na hÉireann. Léireoidh ár sraith an nádúr ciorclach a bhaineann le Roth na Bliana: Samhain ag cur fáilte roimh an Gheimhreadh, Imbolg an tEarrach, Bealtaine ag fógairt tús an tSamhraidh, agus Lúnasa ag ceiliúradh Fómhair na bliana. Le linn na sraithe, i gcathracha agus i mbailte timpeall na tíre, feicfimid pobail ag teacht le chéile chun na traidisiúin ársa seo a cheiliúradh.
Episode 1 – Samhain
This episode explores the festival of Samhain at the beginning of the Celtic new year. Firstly, the importance of the Wheel of the year as an expression of how our ancestors viewed time cyclical as opposed to linear. Following the theme of Myth, the programme will feature a re-enactment of the ritual of The First Fire on the sacred hill of Tlachta and the symbolic importance of fire will also be explored. As a welcome to winter, Samhain leads us to embrace both the light and darkness as it was in the tradition of our ancestors.
The programme also looks at the traditional games played on Oíche Shamhna and speak of the fairy host and their resonance with that special night. The programme finishes with the annual Macnas Halloween parade in Galway as we delve deeper into the role of myth and its strong influence on the psyche of both the individual and community.
Clár 1 – Samhain
Sa chlár seo, déanfar iniúchadh ar fhéile na Samhna, ag tús na bliana nua Ceiltí. Ar dtús, breathnaítear ar thábhacht Roth na Bliana mar léiriú ar am ciorclach seachas líneach mar atá sa traidisiúin Gaelach.
Ag leanacht téama na miotaseolaíochta, tá muid i láthair ag Deasghnátha an Chéad Tine ar chnoc Thlachta Co na Mí. Mar fháilte roimh an Gheimhreadh, treoraíonn féile na Samhna muid le glacadh leis an solas agus an dorchadas araon, mar a bhí i dtraidisiún ár sinsear. Sa dara cuid, cuirtear i láthair na cluichí traidisiúnta a imríodh ar Oíche Shamhna agus labhraítear faoin Slua Sí agus a dtionchar ar an oíche speisialta seo. Críochnaíonn an clár le mórshiúl bliantúil Oíche Shamhna Macnas i gCathair na Gaillimhe agus déantar iniúchadh ar ról na miotaseolaíochta agus a tionchar láidir ar ‘psyche’ an duine aonair agus an phobail i gcoitinne.
