School: Robinstown (roll number 9039)

Location:
Robinstown, Co. Meath
Teacher:
Teresa Coyne
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0698, Page 392

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0698, Page 392

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  3. XML “May Day Customs”

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  1. May 4th, 1938.
    On May-day the children cut a small white thorn-bush, then they make a hole in the ground with a crow bar. They go off through the woods and fields to gather wild flowers such as :- cowslips, primroses, daisies, bluebells, wild hyacinths and they also gather some garden flowers.
    They make the flowers into little bunches and tie them with string. They make a loop on the string which they hang on each branch of the tree.
    When they have the bush nicely decorated with flowers and ribbons they go round from house to house carrying the May-bush. One carries the May-bush in front, and another carries after him with a little box and shouts : - "A penny for the May-bush."
    Any pennies they get they share them with each other. After May-day the May-bush is stuck in the manure-heap to rot.
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. May (~639)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Rosie Connell
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    14