The period during which the above festivities occurred, and sometime before and after _Nollaig_, was popularly known as “The Black cuttings of Christmas” (_Gearra dubha na Nollaig_), from its liability to tempestuous weather. The sky is then lowering and dark, the “level” sun gives little warmth, and high winds prevail. The _Dùlachd_ of winter extended over the six weeks preceding the middle of spring (_gu meadhon an Earraich_). Some (_e.g._ _Highland Society’s Dict._, _sub voce_) call it _Dùbhlachd_, and translate it simply “wintry weather.” Others call it _Dùdlachd_, and denote by it “the depth of winter.” The word is a contraction of _duaithealachd_, from _duaitheil_, extremely coarse and rough, an epithet applied to stormy weather. Thus, _nach duaitheil an t-sìd?_ is it not desperately coarse weather? _Ceann reamhar an duaithealais_, “the thick end of coarseness,” denotes extremely rough usage. Handsel Monday (_Di-luain an t-sainnseil_) was the first Monday after New-Year’s Day, and was the principal day in the whole year for _deachainn_, _i.e._ for making trials and forecasts of the future. It derives its name from _sainnseal_, Scot. handsel, a present or gift in his hand given this day to every visitor to a house. _Sainnseal sona_ is “a happy or fortunate present.” In some districts cock-fighting was practised in the schools, and children brought a gratuity (in money) to the schoolmaster. In other districts this was not the case till Shrovetide (_Di-màirt Inid_). In Skye the day is called _Di-luain Traosda_; and it is from it the 12 days, corresponding in weather to the 12 months of the year, are computed. FEBRUARY (_Faoilleach_).