School: Enfield (roll number 8194)
- Location:
- Innfield, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Edward Farrell
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0692, Page 260
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- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- Local Marriage Customs. Mrs. O'Neill (30) Enfield.
Long ago in every part of the country and even up to the present day there were several marriage customs. People believed that there were certain lucky months and days to get married. June is the nicest month and most people get married in it. May is supposed to be very unlucky. Most marriages take place on Wednesday because it is the best day of all.
In olden days people believed in days in which things would happen if they got married on certain days of the week, as Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses and Saturday the worst day of all.
Generally there are a good many marriages before Shrove, as marriage is prohibited during the seven weeks of Lent. In parts of the country the Sunday before Shrove is called "Puss Sunday" because girls who do not get married before Lent are "Pussy" or in other words angry. On Shrove Tuesday pancakes are made and a ring is put in one, and who ever gets the ring is supposed to be married before next Shrove.
Long ago match making was very common, but not so much nowadays. It still is the custom in the West of Ireland. If a man was looking for a wife he would get a couple of old men(continues on next page)
- Informant
- Mrs O' Neill
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 30
- Address
- Innfield, Co. Meath
