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School: Radharc na Féile (roll number 14156)

Location:
Abbeyfeale West, Co. Limerick
Teacher:
Tadhg Mac Coitir
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0495, Page 128

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0495, Page 128

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  3. XML “St John's Customs”

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  1. St John's Customs

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    St John's Eve falls in Midsummer just as Christmas night falls in Midwinter. What a sight it is to look around the countryside to see a bonfire by every family. The bonfire is lighted in the open during the Summer Solstice while the yule log is burned for a fire in the Winter Solstice. In some places families gather together to light the bonfire. One person brings a bart of brosna, another person brings a sop of hay while another brings a pint of petrol. It is lighted at dusk. Some sing a song and more dance. When the embers are dying out they jump across it so as to have luck for the year. Then they bring a cow and make her jump it so as to have an increase in her milk in the future. In former days if the people had a sick animal they would burn it in the fire and if they hadn't they would
    (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)
        1. Feast of St John (~208)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    John Cotter
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Kilmaniheen West, Co. Kerry