Inglis Street Elementary students study Gaelic for Nocturne
Project called 'growing together' has students study Nova Scotia's Gaelic heritage for art show
Students at Inglis Street Elementary School are learning the meaning of A' Fàs Ri Chèile, which translates to growing together. They're learning Gaelic in anticipation of a special display at Halifax's Nocturne Festival.
The students will be performing a Gaelic milling frolic at the night arts event on Oct. 18.
The milling frolic is a tradition commonly performed more than a century ago and has the students pushing and pulling a long circular blanket while singing in Gaelic.
"That's how they kept warm in the winter because it was pretty cold back then," explained Sylvia Mok, a grade six student.
"We are a very diverse school, we have kids from all around the world," said principal Vince MacNeil. "So we're going to celebrate our diversity by using a traditional Gaelic cultural practice."
The exercise is part of a larger activity, where the entire school is extensively studying Gaelic culture.
They'll be inviting people to take part in the milling frolic at their performance during Nocturne at NSCAD.
The students are also painting flags mixed with their own heritage, which will be sewn together to create a mosaic that will also be on display.