School: Carnadough (B.), Newtowncashel

On this page

1. Pagan Customs (continued)

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   called the "Yule Log" was burned on the hearth on the birthday of the sun. This old custom is still observed in some parts at Christmas. In olden times the people thought that those plants, which kept green all year had special blessings connected with them; consequently they were very fond of taking these plants into their houses. They thought that the plants that had berries on them, possessed still more blessings than the others.
   The ancients had great reverence for the mistletoes. They regarded it as a sign of God's favour or anger. The druids always worshipped under the oak tree. If mistletoe was found growing on the oak, it was cut down by a priest with a Golden axe and carefully preserved in a white cloth. Then a milk white bull was offered as a sacrifice. The berries on the mistletoe are of a white glossy colour, and are different entirely from those on the Holly. Thrushes love mistletoe berries, and apparently have no trouble in finding them. It must be remembered that a mistletoe is not an evergreen at all. It does not look for food for itself, but the tree on which it climbs has to provide food for it.
   Ivy is generally mixed with holly for decorating the house at Christmas. It has to be supported by another tree, but that tree has not to provide food it, as it has a root of its own.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Tomás Ó Féicin

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Caltragh More, Co. Longford