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School: Naomh Bríghid, Blackwater (roll number 7036)

Location:
Blackwater, Co. Wexford
Teacher:
Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0886, Page 072

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0886, Page 072

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  1. XML School: Naomh Bríghid, Blackwater
  2. XML Page 072
  3. XML “Old Marriage Customs”

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  1. Old Marriage Customs

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    People are not near as much interested in sport in modern times as they used be long ago. Long ago when people were about to be married the bride always went to the bridegroom's house and prepared the house for the wedding. She spent two days in his house and then spent two days preparing her own house. The wedding morn the bridegroom would go to the bride's house and put the saddles on the horses for the bride's people. The bride's mother would be the first to be up and then she would go to the girl's room and say, "Get up and wear something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue." It was supposed to be unlucky to get married without these things. If the bride had sisters elder than herself at the wedding who were not married they were supposed to have to wear something green or if not they would never get married. After the wedding all the male wedding guests galloped the horses home and who ever would reached home first would get the box which the wedding cake was in. Then they would dance for two nights at the bridegroom's house and then for two nights at the bride's house. Then on Shrove Tuesday the final dance would be held in the house where the newly married couple lived.
    In earlier times Shrove Tuesday was a very busy day for the parish priest as he had to marry several couples that day. After Mass and a hurried breakfast he set out. The bridegroom and his relations went to
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. rites of passage (~573)
          1. marriage (~4,283)
    Language
    English
    Informant
    Mrs W. Devereux
    Gender
    Male
    Age
    79
    Address
    Ballina, Co. Wexford