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School: Robertson (roll number 13372)

Location:
Ballintra, Co. Donegal
Teacher:
Somhairle Mac Ádhaimh
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1033, Page 171

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1033, Page 171

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  3. XML “May Customs”

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  1. May Customs

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    The month of May is greatly given to superstition. On May Eve, it is a custom for the people to go out and gather May flowers and put them on the window sills to keep away the witches.
    You should never take off any of your Winter clothes till May is out so the old saying goes,
    “N’er cast a clout
    Till May is out.”
    No body should bathe in for,
    “Those who bathe in May
    Will soon be in the clay.”
    Country farmers light fires in their yards on May Eve and when the clock strikes twelve that night, they take out their cattle and drive them round the fire, repeating the Three Best Names. This will
    (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. May (~639)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Roland Greene
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Dromore, Co. Donegal