School: Baile Choitín (C.) (roll number 16110)
- Location:
- Ballycotton, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Caitlín Ní Rignigh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0394, Page 129
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- XML “Some Old Customs Observed on the Eves of Festivals”
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- (continued from previous page)that whoever gets it will be boss in his or her own house. The Ring signifies early marriage and the Rag signifies poverty.
(7) On ALL SOUL'S EVE.A large candle is lighted in every house on this night in honour of the dead. The dead relations are supposed to be around the house on that night and the light is kept burning all night to show them to the house.
(8) At CHRISTMAS One candle is lighted in every house but people who have come from other parts of the country have in some cases a candle in every window of the house. The candle at Christmas is lighted by the youngest child in the house who is able to do so. The candle is placed in a turnip or mangel with a hole scooped in it, it is decorated with coloured paper and holly and ivy.
(9) On St Stephen's Days boys go about with the wren. No wren is carried neither is the wren hunted.(I)
The Wren, The Wren the King of all Birds
On St Stephen's day he is caught in the furze
A bunch of Ribbons by his side
And the Cloyne Boys to be his guide.ChorusKnock at the knocker
Ring the bell
Give us some coppers
For singing so well(II)We followed the wren through frost and snow
We followed the wren three miles or more
We followed the wren to Carrig-a-Crump
And brought him home on a Holly-stump
(10) The first Monday of the year is called "Handsel" Monday and nobody pays out money on that day as it is said you will be paying all the year if you pay on that day.
