School: Baile Mac Rabhartaigh (roll number 3978)

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1. Christmas Customs

   

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   A band of grown up boys gaily dressed in ribbons, false faces and bright coloured [colored?] clothing with tall hats travel round the houses about two weeks before Christmas. These boys are called Mummers.

   There is a captain in the band. He enters the house and introduces his merry men, with this rhyme.

   Room, room for gallant boys.

   Any room to cheer.

   Christmas comes but once a year and when it comes it

   brings good cheer.

   If you dont [don’t?] believe what I say enter in “Green Knight.”

   Then the young man called “Green Knight” enters in and repeats his rhyme:

   Here comes I Green Knight with my rifle

   My head is made of iron

   My body made of steel

   My fists are made of knuckle bone

   I’m ready for the field.

   If you don’t believe what I say enter in “Jack Steeple” [sic] Then a young man enters in and repeats his rhyme. When all the band have repeated his [him?] their rhyme, the captain goes round the house collecting the money. In this district the Christmas feast is held on Christmas day. There is a turkey or a goose for dinner with plum pudding after. The second day of Christmas is called St. Stephens Day

   (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. Christmas (~455)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Brendan Mc Cormack

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   11

   Address

   Ballintra, Co. Donegal