School: Ferbane (Convent)
- Location:
- Ferbane, Co. Offaly
- Teacher: Sr. Patrick
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0813, Page 406
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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On this page
- Festival Customs.
Boys dress up in funny costumes on Saint Stephen's Day and go around from house to house playing different instruments and dancing and singing. The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, Saint Stephen's Day she was caught in the furze,
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
A penny or twopence to bury the wren.
Then they collect money from each house. Afterwards they divide the money gathered, among themselves.
The custom in ancient times for Hallow'een was diving for apples and nuts. Then three saucers were got. Clay was put on one, a ring on another, and water on the third. The three saucers were laid on the table and a person is blind folded. He is to put his fingers into one of the saucers. If he touches the clay he is to die before the year is out. If into the water he is to cross the sea. If on the ring he is to be married before the year is out.
On Saint Patrick's Day the people(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Nancy Kenny
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Ferbane, Co. Offaly
