School: Mungret (C.) (roll number 11784)
- Location:
- Mungret, Co. Limerick
- Teacher: Bean Mhic Aodhagáin
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0528, Page 170
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- XML Page 170
- XML “Christmas Customs”
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- Christmas Customs.At Christmas people decorate the house with holly and ivy and they put misletoe up over the door and when the boy opens the door the girl must kiss him. They light Blessed candles on that night and they leave the door opened so that if anybody come to look for lodgings they would be able to get in.On St. Stephen's day they get a holly bush and they get a wren and they make up a song about the wren. When the small boys get the money they share it, but when the big boys get the money they get a loan of a house for the day, and they give the woman of the house the money to buy them food and they have a dance, and they eat and drink.This is the song they sing.
The wren, the wren, the King of all birds.
St. Stephen's day he was caught in the furze.
All though he was little his family great
Rise up young lady and give us a treat.
We followed the wren through frost and snow.
We knocked him down and could not go.
We dipped his head in a bottle of beer.
I wish you all a happy New Year.On Christmas night people hand up their stockings so that they will(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Theresa Ronan
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Ballynoe, Co. Limerick
- Informant
- Mr Patrick Ronan
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- Labourer
- Address
- Ballynoe, Co. Limerick
