Definition

Noun: 1. An informal social gathering featuring Scottish or Irish folk music, singing, folk dancing, and storytelling: A traditional social event, originating in Scotland and Ireland, characterized by communal participation in folk arts.

Usage

The word "ceilidh" refers specifically to a type of cultural event. It is used as a countable noun. * We are going to a ceilidh in the village hall tonight. * The festival will include a traditional ceilidh with live music. * He learned many stories at the ceilidhs he attended as a child.

Examples

• The community organized a ceilidh to celebrate the harvest, with fiddlers, dancers, and a local poet.
• Attending a genuine Scottish ceilidh is a wonderful way to experience the culture firsthand.
• The atmosphere at the ceilidh was warm and lively, with everyone encouraged to join in the dancing.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used more broadly to refer to any informal party or social gathering with music, especially in a Celtic context, though the elements of folk tradition are central to its definition.
• In modern usage, "ceilidh" often implies a type of social dance where a caller teaches the steps to participants, making it accessible to all skill levels.

Variants and Related Words

• Ceilidh band (noun phrase): A musical group that plays traditional dance tunes for a ceilidh.
• Ceilidh dancing (noun phrase): The specific style of folk dancing performed at a ceilidh.

Synonyms

• Hooley (noun, chiefly Irish): A lively party or celebration, often with music.
• Social (noun): A informal gathering of people for pleasure. (This is a more general term.)
• Gathering (noun): An assembly or meeting of people.

Idioms and Phrases

• To have a ceilidh: To hold or participate in such an event.
  • The islanders often have a ceilidh on Saturday nights.

Noun

1. an informal social gathering at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing and folk dancing and story telling