School: Abbeytown Convent N.S. (roll number 15043)
- Location:
- Boyle, Co. Roscommon
- Teacher: Sr. M. Columbanus
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0235, Page 237
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May Day Customs (continued)
“Many May-day customs which were practised long ago,”
(continued from previous page)to bring them good-luck all the year, and to keep them from being sun-burned during the Summer. The person who carries the first can of water from the well will have good luck all the year.
The country people were always very superstitious. They never gave butter or milk away on May-day because they feared bad-luck. The man of the house would get a branch of mountain ash and place it in a manure heap. This was supposed to guard the cows and keep them from harm. The person who lit the first fire on May-morn, was supposed to have bad luck. Salt was never lent or given away. Long ago the boys and girls of the district made necklaces from May-flowers. They then, went to the cross-roads where dances were held until morning. This custom has died out altogether, and it is only in the country that some of the customs are practised now-a-days.
- Collector
- Nan Rutledge
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Boyle, Co. Roscommon
- Informant
- Mrs Rutledge
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Termon, Co. Roscommon