School: Kilnaleck (C.)
- Location:
- Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Mrs. Reilly
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0994, Page 257
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- XML School: Kilnaleck (C.)
- XML Page 257
- XML “May Day Customs”
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- May Day or La-Bel-Taine (the day of the Sacred Baal Fire) was a period of great rejoicing in Ireland. On May morning before sunrise all the youth went out to the garden and the first snail they saw they took it up put it on a plate sprinkled lightly with flour placed a cabbage leave over it and so left it there until after sunrise when they would find the initial letters of their lover's name traced on the flour. Should the snail be quite within his house when you take him up your lover will be rich but should the snail be almost out of his shell then your future husband will be poor and probably will have no house or home to take you to when you wed him. Great precautions was taken on May Eve as it was believed that the fairies had fatal power over the human race upon that night as they stole children and bewiched the cattle if they could find an opportunity therefore no door was left upen after sunset. There are three things which was never given away on May Day, fire, milk and butter for they would be giving away luck. No one was permitted(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Rosetta Reilly
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Coolkill, Co. Cavan
- Informant
- Mrs Reilly
- Relation
- Parent
- Gender
- Female
- Age
- 45
- Address
- Coolkill, Co. Cavan
