School: Meath Hill (roll number 7166)
- Location:
- Meath Hill, Co. Meath
- Teacher: Patrick J. Connolly
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0712, Page 182
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- XML School: Meath Hill
- XML Page 182
- XML “Local Marriage Customs”
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- Local Marriage CustomsLong ago there were a lot of customs at weddings. When a couple were engaged to get married they usually acquainted their parents about their intended marriage. The boy usually went to his intended bride's home accompanied by another man and the custom was for the other man to tell their business and treat the girl's parents. If the parents thought a suitable match for their daughter they usually gave her a dowry, money or sometimes land or stock. Then the day was arranged for the wedding; usually Wednesday as it was considered the luckiest day. Long ago marriages often took place in the houses and in the afternoon but nowadays they are married in the church, they have Mass in the morning and are married afterwards. In this district there is no particular time of the year for getting married but in the past nobody could get married in Lent or Advent. When the bride and bridegroom come out of the church they go to the bride's house for breakfast. Then they go for a drive to some town or seaside place and return home in the evening to the bridegroom's house and have a great feast there and nobody goes to the feast only those who are invited. They have a much faster way of travelling now than long ago, they have motors now but long ago they(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Michael Byrne
- Gender
- Male
