Irish people are known for their obsession with the weather. We love to talk about it, praise it and more often than not, complain about it, especially the rain!
Discussing the weather is a sure-fire conversation starter if you happen to visit Ireland. Some useful phrases that can be used when talking about the weather include the following:
Tá an lá go deas
It is a nice day
Tá an lá fliuch
It is a wet day
Tá sé geallta fuar anocht
It is promised to be cold tonight
Níl caill ar bith ar an lá
It is not a bad day
Ireland is noted above all else for its mild weather with the average annual temperature about 9 degrees Celsius or 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Ireland’s climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and therefore does not have the extreme cold and hot temperatures experienced in many other countries. However, the general impression is that it rains a lot in Ireland. According to Met Éireann, Ireland’s National Meteorological Service, the average number of wet days ranges from 150 days a year along the east and south-east coast to about 225 days a year in parts of the west. However, the unpredictability of the Irish weather does not deter the many tourists who visit all parts of Ireland every year to sample its beauty and unspoilt landscapes whether its sunny, raining, snowing or windy. Just remember to pack the rain gear if you ever decide to come and visit Ireland!
A common tradition in Ireland is to leave the Child of Prague statue outside the bride’s garden on the night before a wedding to ensure it doesn’t rain on the day1. This tradition is based on people’s beliefs that the statue (which is a representation of the child Jesus) can control the weather and that placing the statue under a hedge or a bush will guarantee fine weather for the big day.
Many people in Ireland believe that it is good luck if it rains on your wedding day. It is also a good sign if it rains on your funeral2. However, these beliefs are probably more a response to the unreliability of the Irish weather than anything else!
What are your thoughts about the Irish weather? Have you ever visited Ireland in the summer or in winter? What was the weather like? Was it raining or did you get fine weather? Do you have any traditions around the weather in your country?
Komentar
Posting Komentar