Computation of time, however, by months and days of the month, as at present, was entirely unknown to the Highlander of former days; and even yet, the native population do not say “on such a day of such a month,” but so many days before or after the beginning of summer or other season, or before and after certain well-known term days and festivals, as St Bride’s day, St Patrick’s day, Whitsunday (_caingis_), Hallowtide (_Samhuinn_), etc. The time is always reckoned by the old style, and this difference of notation is at first confusing to a stranger. For instance, when told that the ling fishing on the West Coast lasts from the middle of spring till five weeks of summer, it will take a little thought on his part to realise that this means from the beginning of April to about the 18th of June. Names for the months are to be found in dictionaries, but they are obviously manufactured from the Latin names, and confined to modern printed Gaelic. A connected account of the festivals and days by which the year was marked, must begin with the festivities by which its advent was celebrated. NOLLAIG. The seven days from Christmas to the New Year were called _Nollaig_, and in the good easy-going olden times no work was done during them, but men gave themselves up to friendly festivities and expressions of goodwill. Hence the sayings, “The man whom Christmas does not make cheerful, Easter will leave sad and tearful,”[52] and “There is no Christmas without flesh.”[53] Christmas day was called “the day of big Nollaig” (_Latha Nollaig mhór_), and the night before it “the night of Cakes” (_oidhche nam bannagan_); while New-Year day was known as “the day of little Nollaig” (_Latha Nollaig bhig_), and the night before it “the night of blows” (_oidhche nan Calluinnean_). The name _Nollaig_ is from the Latin _natalis_, as is made certain by the Welsh word being _Nadolig_; and therefore corresponds to the English Christmas. Various explanations are given of the name of the night before it. Some say _bannag_ means “a feast of women,” from _bean_, a wife, a feast of rejoicing, such as is customary when a child is born, being prepared by women this evening in memory of the birth of Christ. Others say the _bannag_ is the cake presented by them to every one who entered the house that night. If the word means a cake, it is only applied to Christmas cakes or those used on this day. When there was a person of means, he took every one he met that week, especially the poor, to his house, and gave him his _bannag_, a large round cake (_bonnach mòr cruinn_).