School: Killavilla

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1. Sayings and Customs Connected with May Day or May Eve (continued)

   

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   sayings connected with May-Day.

   
   I

   One is, that on May-Eve, no farmer should leave out his cows, for, the fairies might come and take a small amount of milk from each cow, and take their "luck". Then the cows would give no milk until the following May.

   II

   Another saying is that, long ago in Ireland the girls would go out about four o'clock on May-morning, and wash their faces in the dew, and by doing so they would have lovely complexions.

   III

   On May morning, all the people watch their neighbours chimneys, to see who will have the first sign of smoke, for, it is counted very unlucky to be first.

   Long ago in Ireland the brightness of the first morning of May inspired many noble men to compose poems.

   Here is "Fionn's Song in Praise of May-Day"

   
   "May-Day! delightful day!

   Bright colours play the vale along:

   Now wakes at morning's slender ray,

   Wild and gay, the blackbirds song."

   
   This composition was written by_

   (continues on next page)

   

   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