Customs relating to certain Days

J.K.A.S. VOL. V, NO. 6

CUSTOMS PECULIAR TO CERTAIN DAYS, FORMERLY OBSERVED IN COUNTY KILDARE.

Dr. Joyce author of A Social History of Ancient Ireland tells us that in early Christian times the year was divided into four quarters which were called:

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Spring, the first day commenced on the 1st February (Pagan times: called Oimle Ewe- milk) known to Irish speakers as Feil Brighde - St.Brigid?s Festival.

SAMHRADH : commenced on the 1st May ( Belltaine ) i.e. Lucky Fire.

FOGHMUAR: Autumn, commenced on August 1st ( Lugnasad ) i.e. The Games of Lugh.

GEIMHRIDH: Winter, commencing on 1st November, still known as the ancient name of Samhain - Summer

In Pagan times the year was divided into two parts - Summer, from May 1st to November 1st and Winter from the 1st November to May 1st.

Dr. Joyce adds that there is historical testimony that games were celebrated at the beginning of, Summer, Autumn, and winter but none at the beginning of Spring. The divisions in the year and their festive originated with the Pagan Irish, and were continued in Christian times.

HOLY DAYS

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

New year's Day is still observed as a holy-day. It was customary to bake a large Barm-brack, which the man of the house, after taking three bites out of it, threw it against the main doom of his house, in the name of the Trinity, at the same time expressing the hope that starvation might be banished from Ireland and go to the King of the tanks. The fragments of the cake were then gathered up and eaten by all the members of the household. Before returning to rest, twelve candles were lit in honour of the twelve Apostles, a the family prayers were said.

St. Brigid's DAY - FEBRUARY 1ST

Formerly observed as a holy-day and called the Feil Brighde in Irish reckoned as the first day of Spring in old times. On St. Brigid's Day the Breedhodge was carried round by the young people from house to house, at which collections of food and money were made in honour of Miss Biddy. This was probably a survival of a religious ceremony in which a statue of St. Brigid was carried at the head of the procession. St. Brigid's Crosses were made, woven out of straw and struck up inside the house until it was replaced by another.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY - MARCH 17TH

Observed as holy-day.

A spring of shamrock (or shanroge as the peasants call it) worn in the hats of the men are generally sold in Dublin for some days before the anniversary of the saint?s death.

Young girls and small children wear on the right shoulder a St. Patrick's Cross made up of a single or double cross made by pieces of narrow silk ribbon stitched to a circular disk of paper, nicked at the edge. At the end of the arms of the cross a small bow or rosette is stitched, with a larger one in the centre, the more the brighter the silk, the more handsome the cross.

'The drowning of the shamrock' by no means implies that it is necessary to get drunk in doing so. At the end of the day the shamrock is put in the final glass of grog, and when the health has been drunk on the toast honoured, the shamrock should be picked out and thrown over the left shoulder.

MAYDAY

On May Eve it was customary to light as on St. John's Eve (23rd June) in commemoration of the May bonfires the first day of the month has been known as Beltina or Lucky Fire. May morning appears to have been the day when witch-women were able to rob their neighbours butter in their unchurned milk, this was done by entering the cows field between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and with cloths wiped up the dew and wrung them into a wooden or tin gallon, which if undisturbed they carried back to their own cabins, if they succeeded. No amount of churning would, during a twelvemonth, bring butter to the cow-owner's churn.

The 'May-bush' was cut the previous and stuck in the ground in front of the house; it was decorated with all the egg-shells saved since Easter Sunday, along with ribbons, wild flowers and bits of candles. On May night the candles were lit, and dancing took place around the May-bush. During the whole of the May Day no fine was allowed to leave the house, nor could anything be lent or given away out of the house, even if it was a glass of water for a stranger he or she would have to enter the house and help themselves and replace the vessels on the dresser.

In some towns the May Poles was permanent fixture, one formerly stood a the junction in Castledermot a pump now occupies the site. Some rebels are said to have been hanged from the May-Pole in ?98.

The May-Pole was unknown in the country districts and probably introduced into the towns by the English.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S NATIVITY - JUNE 24TH

On St. John's Eve it was a customary for every district to light a bonfire. When the bonfire had burned itself out, cattle were driven through the 'greedhach' or ashes. The object of this was to prevent the cattle being 'overlooked' by the evil eye, and to ward off sickness and bad luck for twelve month.

On this day an ass's shoe was nailed over the doorway on the inside of the house, to ward off the evil eyed witchcraft.

MICHAELMAS DAY, OR THE FESTIVAL OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, SEPTEMBER 29TH

The first goose was killed and eaten.

The legend is told that St. Patrick (throughout the intercession of St. Michael) restored the life of Lewy, the young son of Leary, monarch of Ireland, in the fifth century. The prince's mother, Aongus, was so overjoyed that she placed on the poor on Michaelmas Day one sheep out of every Christian convent in the kingdom should follow the Queens example. And in obedience to this arose the custom of killing Saint Michael's sheep called in the Irish language cuid Mhichill, observed to this day.

ALL SAINT'S DAY - NOVEMBER 1ST

Samhain as this day is called by Irish speakers, was reckoned as the first day of the Winter. It was one of the great pagan festivals to which the games and rites practical in All Hallows Eve, are traceable.

These came under two heading, viz.; - Harmless amusements, and (2) Pisherogues performed in the name of the devil here are some examples of each;

HARMLESS AMUSEMENTS;

(a) A half-barrel was filled with water and placed on the floor. Silver coins and apples were placed in the water. Boys stripped to the waist and hands tied behind their backs the took turns in trying to rescue the coins with their lips and the apples with their teeth. If they succeeded they kept their catch.

(b) Our plates were set on a table each one holding something different; water in the first which signified migration, a ring in the second signifying marriage, a day in the third to signify death and finally straw or salt in the fourth which meant prosperity. A person was blind-folded and led to the table into which ever plate they put their hand so would there future turn out.

The following are the pisherogues in the name of the devil; On this one night the devils aid was invoked to show a person his/her future partner.

(a) The letters of the alphabet were cut out of a book and in the name of the devil, sunk backs up into a bucket of water. In the morning the initials of the future husband?s (or wives) name would be floating fronts up.

(b) Boys would go to a barn and sow oats along its floor in the name of the devil. He would then go to the door and expect to see the fetch of his future wife. ('Fetch' is the apparition of a person in a district place). Instances have occurred where a coffin has appeared and this tells a boy he will not be alive this night twelve - month. As a rule the young usually avoided the ceremonies which invoked the devil as they were afraid of the consequences. They were secretly done however.

On all Hallows Eve there is a vegetarian dish partken of called Cawlcannon. It consists of cabbage, potatoes, onions and other veg. pounced together and boiled. A ring is hidden inside and whoever gets it can foretell their future fate.

Also customary on this night to weave Parshells - small crosses made from straw and two sticks. this was placed over the front door to ward off ill-luck, sickness and witchcraft for a year.

At this time of the year that vicious and terrifying apparition, the Pooka, was liable to be met with late at night. This dreaded monster was said to be a cross between a bullock, a mule and a big black pig. Poulaphuca and Knockaphucca near Castledermot were former haunts of the unpleasant customer.

ALL SOULS DAY - NOVEMBER 2ND

The day of the year when the souls of the dead are allowed re-visit their native districts. Customary for every house to light a candle for each member of the family who has died. They are placed in an unused room and burned till midnight - by this true the souls have returned to rest. Last thing at night the health is swept clean and on it placed three cups of spring water.

ST. MARTIN'S DAY - NOVEMBER 11TH

Formerly observed as a holy day. On this day a cock was caught and killed and brought bleeding into the house. Its blood was dropped into the four corners of the house to ensure a prosperous year. The bird was then cooked and eaten.

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY - DECEMBER 26TH

The day on which the Wren-Boys go their rounds for a day or two previously the wren has been hunted. Two or three of them are tied to a branch torn form a holly bush and this is decorated with ribbons. On this day groups of boys travel around the place carrying one these bushes and visit the houses soliciting coins or eatables. At each house they repeat a verse or two of a song which starts:

'The wren, the wren, the king of all birds

On Stephen's Day was caught in the furze.'

At the end of the day each wren is buried with a penny.


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