School: Killavilla

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1. Sayings and Customs Connected with May Day or May Eve

   

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   There are many sayings about May-Day, and in Ireland especially many of the old customs are still practiced. Our forefathers must have been very superstitious, for, even at the present time, some people believe that the fairies are particularly busy during May.

   Here are some of the customs which are practiced on May-Eve and on May-Day.

   
   (1)

   If a woman is churning, she puts a red coal into the churn before starting, so that if anyone comes in, they cannot take the butter through the exercise of any magic powers.

   II

   It is also the custom to put a branch of a chestnut tree over the door on May-Eve to keep the fairies, who are travelling from north to south, from entering the house.

   III

   To bring a blessing on your crops or your house, you are supposed to put a piece of "maypole", or rowan tree as it is sometimes called, over the door or on the headland.

   There are very many

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
         1. May (~639)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Cathleen Hanley

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinlough, Co. Offaly

   Informant

   Mrs Hanley

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Ballinlough, Co. Offaly