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School: Paddock, Mountrath (roll number 13173)

Location:
Paddock, Co. Laois
Teacher:
A. Ó Dubhlainn
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0825, Page 166

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0825, Page 166

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  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. Festival Customs

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    St Stephen's Day; Men or boys dress themselves on coloured clothes and put vizards on their faces and go about from house to house in the district gathering money. They generally have a musical instrument with them (a melodeon being the most common and also a holly bush trimmed with coloured papers in which there is surprised to be a wren) When they come to a house they stand outside and say.
    "The wren,the wren,the king of all birds
    St Stephen's Day was caught in the Furze.
    Up with the kettle and down with the pan.
    Give me my money and let me be gone.
    Though I am small my family is great
    Rise up landlady and give me a treat.
    I pushed her up,I pushed her down
    I pushed her into Castletown
    I stuck my head in a barrel of beer
    I wish you all a happy new year.
    Money I want and money I crave
    If you don't give me money I will
    put You to the grave.
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English