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School: Ballinahowen (roll number 8646)

Location:
Ballynahown, Co. Westmeath
Teacher:
T. Hanly
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0745, Page 040

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0745, Page 040

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  1. XML School: Ballinahowen
  2. XML Page 040
  3. XML “Festival Customs - Christmas”
  4. XML “Holy Week”

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  1. Festival Customs - Christmas

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    Christmas is a time of sport and pleasure. On Christmas eve people light candles and put one in every window in the house, to show light to the "Holy Family."
    There are many legends concerning animals and their actions on Christmas eve. The cock is supposed to crow all night to frighten away evil spirits. Oxen are said to kneel in stalls. People believe that if Christmas falls on a Saturday the Winter is to be bad and there is to be strong winds.
    On New Year Eve people also light candles and honour it as at Christmas. On the 6th of January people get twelve rushes and put them on a sod of turf in honour of the twelve Apostles. Then they light them and while they are burning people say the rosary. Every person watches a candle and if it quenches first the person will die first.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
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