School: Drong (roll number 15699)
- Location:
- Drung, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Seán P. Mac Gabhann
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1117, Page 226
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On this page
- The Customs of Easter Sunday and May-eve.
Of all the feasts of the Ecclesiastical Year, Easter Sunday is the most important. Likewise, its customs are of importance, which are, solely, remnants of the past.
In this locality, the children practice the old-time custom of lighting a fire in the open air, and boiling eggs at it. The fire resembles the one lit by St. Patrick at Slane, and the eggs resemble the Resurrection,- namely as the young bird springs forth from the egg, so in the same manner, did Our Saviour, spring forth from the grave. Sometimes, the children pluck "whin" or furze blossoms, and boil them with the eggs, and this gives the shells a radiant yellow colour. They then sit around the fire, peel the skins off, and eat the eggs with salt.
The local people believe the sun dances in the East on each Easter Sunday morning in memory of the resurrection, and this belief is confirmed by a few who have witnessed this strange thing.
On the day before Easter Sunday(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Annie M. Harrigan
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Drung, Co. Donegal
