A wild horse can be tamed by whispering the Creed into his left ear on Wednesday and into his right ear on Friday. The procedure is repeated until the horse is calmed.
If a bird flew into the house it was to insure death.
A purse made from a weasel would never be empty.
It is unlucky to knit at night until you were certain the sheep were asleep.
It is fortunate to hear a cuckoo call - but only if it was on your right side.
If a child is born before noon, they would not be able to see spirits or the good people, but if they were born at night, the child would have the gift.
It is unlucky to build an house extension from the rear, especially if it faces west. A story is told that one family defied the custom with tragedy as the result when they lost two menfolk at sea and a third went mad.
It is common to give a "lucky penny" to the buyer of livestock, which is giving a portion of the sale back to the seller when a deal is made. Spitting on the palm and slapping the hand of the customer seals the deal. A man's status within a community is determined by the size of the "luck penny" he habitually gives.
A stocking filled with hot potatoes and applied to the throat cures tonsillitis.
Shaving on Sunday caused toothaches; carrying a haddock's jawbone prevented them.
Boiled daisies relieve sore eyes.
Kepl boiled in milk cures boils.
Unsalted butter rubbed on a stitch in the side makes it go away.
Rubbing warts with fresh-cut potatoes and burying the potato in the garden would cure the growth.
Changing the name of a boat is said to change its luck.
Coins dropped overboard would cause a storm.
It is unlucky to keep the first salmon of the season.
Taking short-cuts from established routes along the shore is unlucky.
Water that is used to wash feet is never thrown out at night. And when it is thrown out, one must always be careful to warn the good people.
Falling soot, color changes in frogs, curlews calling, midges biting, and swallows flying low all foretell changes for good or ill.
Big shoals foretell a plentiful harvest.
If there are three boats together, they must be lashed all together for it is unlucky to be the third boat out.
Sharks are not hunted on Sunday.
No family called Cregan or Kerry will not be drowned.
Bad weather comes from greedy pollock.
Boarding a boat from the right or coal thrown after a fisherman boards his boat brings good luck.
Porpoises swimming near shore, lobster and crabs on rocks, seaulls and other sea-birds flying in-land are all signs of bad weather.
If you drink nettle soup on May 1, you will be free of rheumatism for a year.
It is unlucky to go on a trip on St. Martins Eve and the Feast of St. Martin on November 10 and 11.
On January 6, the day of Ephiphany, a tail of a herring is rubbed across the eyes of children to protect hem from disease for the rest of the year.
A straw from the Nativity scene is put up into rafters on St. Brigid's Day, February 1, to protect against evil spirits or to cure ringworm.
Some believe that it is only safe to travel in a boat when steered by a new bride.
It is lucky to sow potatoes on Good Friday.
Taking short cuts on all Souls Day, November 2, cause fear that they would be led astray.
It is unlucky to move a house, get married, begin a big project, or take an overnight journey on Saturday.
Carry a rabbit's foot for good luck. (The rabbit is a pagan symbol, quite offensive to Christianity)
If a stray cat comes into the house, make every effort to make it stay, but if you move, leave it behind.
Never look at a cat right after it rubs its face with its paws - the first person the cat looks at will be the first person in the house to die.
If a crow flys directly over a home, it is an omen of death.
Whenever a rooster crows, the saying is quoted, "God between us and all harm," no doubt a reference to the betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
Position a horseshoe above a door with the points up so that luck will not run out.
If you are an Irish bride, make sure a horseshoe is included with all your ensemble.
It used to be that Irish mothers would purposefully make their children unattractive, for beautiful things were much sought after treasure.
Crossed knives on a counter top indicates arguments to come.
Do not open an umbrella in the house.
Do not let lilacs bloom inside a home.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
WINTER FESTIVALS: SAINT BRIGID'S DAY
QUOTED
"In the old days February 1st was considered the start of the growth season. After Christianity was introduced, Saint Brigid (Bridie) was honored instead of the pagan gods.
In many places in rural Ireland people still make Brigid Crosses to honor her.
Pageants take place at schools and churches with young women carrying green rushes.
On the eve of this festival, crosses are woven of rushes and hung for a year above the doors of houses and barns. These crosses are believed to protect the house and the livestock from harm and fire. No evil spirit is told can pass through these charms.
A small folk play is enacted in which a girl playing the part of Brigid brings rushes to the door and is allowed inside. She blesses the family, eats with them, and helps them make crosses."
"In the old days February 1st was considered the start of the growth season. After Christianity was introduced, Saint Brigid (Bridie) was honored instead of the pagan gods.
In many places in rural Ireland people still make Brigid Crosses to honor her.
Pageants take place at schools and churches with young women carrying green rushes.
On the eve of this festival, crosses are woven of rushes and hung for a year above the doors of houses and barns. These crosses are believed to protect the house and the livestock from harm and fire. No evil spirit is told can pass through these charms.
A small folk play is enacted in which a girl playing the part of Brigid brings rushes to the door and is allowed inside. She blesses the family, eats with them, and helps them make crosses."
WINTER FESTIVALS: SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY
Celtic myth had it that the robin that was suppose to represent the New Year killed the wren which represented the Old Year during this time. Wren Boys blacken their faces and go from hous to house asking for money to bury the wren. The money they collect is used to buy food and drink for the "wren dance" held on this night.
St. Stephen's Day honors the first Christianity martyr, stoned to death shortly after the Crucifixion.
St. Stephen's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, but the celebrations have little connection to the Saint.
In Ireland, St. Stephen's Day is the day for "Hunting the Wren" or "Going on the Wren." Originally, groups of small boys would hunt for a wren, and then chase the bird until they either have caught it or it has died from exhaustion. The dead bird was tied to the top of a pole or holly bush, which was decorated with ribbons or colored paper.
Early in the morning of St. Stephen's Day, the wren was carried from house to house by the boys, who wore straw masks or blackened their faces with burnt cork, and dressed in old clothes. At each house, the boys sing the Wren Boys' song, such as:
The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he is little, his family is great,
I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.
My box would speak, if it hd but a tongue,
And two or three shillings, would do it not wrong,
Sing holly, sing ivy -- sing ivy, sing holly,
A drop just to drink it, it would drown melancholy.
And if you draw it of the best,
I hope in heaven your soul will rest;
But if you draw it of the small,
It won't agree with these wren boys at all.
Sometimes those who gave money were given a feather fromt he wren for good luck. The money collected by the Wren Boys was used to hold a dance for the whole village.
There are different legends about the origin of this custom. One is that St. Stephen, hiding from his enemies in a bush, was betrayed by a chattering wren. The wren, like St. Stephen, should be hunted down and stoned to death. Another legend holds that during the Viking raids of the 700's, Irish soldiers were betrayed by a wren as they were sneaking up on a Viking camp int he dead of night. A wren began to eat breadcrumbs left on the head of a drum, and the rat-a-tat-tat of its beak woke the drummer, who sounded the alarm and woke the camp, leading to the defet of the Irish soldiers and the continuing persecution of the wren."
St. Stephen's Day honors the first Christianity martyr, stoned to death shortly after the Crucifixion.
St. Stephen's Day is a national holiday in Ireland, but the celebrations have little connection to the Saint.
In Ireland, St. Stephen's Day is the day for "Hunting the Wren" or "Going on the Wren." Originally, groups of small boys would hunt for a wren, and then chase the bird until they either have caught it or it has died from exhaustion. The dead bird was tied to the top of a pole or holly bush, which was decorated with ribbons or colored paper.
Early in the morning of St. Stephen's Day, the wren was carried from house to house by the boys, who wore straw masks or blackened their faces with burnt cork, and dressed in old clothes. At each house, the boys sing the Wren Boys' song, such as:
The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he is little, his family is great,
I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.
My box would speak, if it hd but a tongue,
And two or three shillings, would do it not wrong,
Sing holly, sing ivy -- sing ivy, sing holly,
A drop just to drink it, it would drown melancholy.
And if you draw it of the best,
I hope in heaven your soul will rest;
But if you draw it of the small,
It won't agree with these wren boys at all.
Sometimes those who gave money were given a feather fromt he wren for good luck. The money collected by the Wren Boys was used to hold a dance for the whole village.
There are different legends about the origin of this custom. One is that St. Stephen, hiding from his enemies in a bush, was betrayed by a chattering wren. The wren, like St. Stephen, should be hunted down and stoned to death. Another legend holds that during the Viking raids of the 700's, Irish soldiers were betrayed by a wren as they were sneaking up on a Viking camp int he dead of night. A wren began to eat breadcrumbs left on the head of a drum, and the rat-a-tat-tat of its beak woke the drummer, who sounded the alarm and woke the camp, leading to the defet of the Irish soldiers and the continuing persecution of the wren."
WINTER FESTIVALS: CHRISTMAS
QUOTED
"In Ireland until December when streets are lined with lit decorations and live Christmas trees are often mounted like flag staffs from building fronts.
Outside Christmas lights can be seen on a few homes but the big decorating efforts take place inside. A live Christmas tree is the center of the efforts, with lights and ornaments. Decorative garlands of paper or foil crisscross the rooms of many homes and mistletoe graces the doorways.
Santa Clau and his helpers can be found at many malls and department stores to take Christmas wish lists or for the very lucky children a trip to visit his workshop in Lapland can be arranged.
Gifts for friends and from family members to each other pile up under the Christmas tree in the days before Christmas and as everywhere a lot fo squeezing, shaking and guessing goes on, but in the back of everyone's mind is what Santa will bring on Christmas morning.
The children's presents are left in each child's gifts in their room, often in a pillow case at the end of the bed, though sometimes a large gift may be left unwrapped under the tree. Christmas stockings are a tradition with some families and are hung Christmas Eve for Santa to fill. He arrives quite late as Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is still a strong tradition for many families and the chimeny is his main entrance into most homes.
As with holiday traditions everywhere, food plays a big part of celebration in Ireland and, just like esle where, there is some variation from family to family. A fairly traditional menu for Christmas dinner includes either Goose or Turkey with stuffing, ham, roasted and boiled potatoes, Brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, and any other family favorites, followed by Christmas cake or a Christmas pudding.
A favorite treat throughout the Christmas season are small minemeat pies.
They prepare spiritually. From the beginning of advent add prayers to usual devotions. Children should say additional Paters and Aves and to count them. Be especially sure to be 'a hardy annual' and be sure to go to church.
Many days before the festival clean house and farmyard thoroughly. Men clean outbuildings and yard entrances, passageways, and surroundings. White-wash all buildings inside and out. Women sweep, wash, and clean the house. Do major laundering - include everything. Clean tables and chairs with sand. Clean pots and pans."
"In Ireland until December when streets are lined with lit decorations and live Christmas trees are often mounted like flag staffs from building fronts.
Outside Christmas lights can be seen on a few homes but the big decorating efforts take place inside. A live Christmas tree is the center of the efforts, with lights and ornaments. Decorative garlands of paper or foil crisscross the rooms of many homes and mistletoe graces the doorways.
Santa Clau and his helpers can be found at many malls and department stores to take Christmas wish lists or for the very lucky children a trip to visit his workshop in Lapland can be arranged.
Gifts for friends and from family members to each other pile up under the Christmas tree in the days before Christmas and as everywhere a lot fo squeezing, shaking and guessing goes on, but in the back of everyone's mind is what Santa will bring on Christmas morning.
The children's presents are left in each child's gifts in their room, often in a pillow case at the end of the bed, though sometimes a large gift may be left unwrapped under the tree. Christmas stockings are a tradition with some families and are hung Christmas Eve for Santa to fill. He arrives quite late as Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is still a strong tradition for many families and the chimeny is his main entrance into most homes.
As with holiday traditions everywhere, food plays a big part of celebration in Ireland and, just like esle where, there is some variation from family to family. A fairly traditional menu for Christmas dinner includes either Goose or Turkey with stuffing, ham, roasted and boiled potatoes, Brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, and any other family favorites, followed by Christmas cake or a Christmas pudding.
A favorite treat throughout the Christmas season are small minemeat pies.
They prepare spiritually. From the beginning of advent add prayers to usual devotions. Children should say additional Paters and Aves and to count them. Be especially sure to be 'a hardy annual' and be sure to go to church.
Many days before the festival clean house and farmyard thoroughly. Men clean outbuildings and yard entrances, passageways, and surroundings. White-wash all buildings inside and out. Women sweep, wash, and clean the house. Do major laundering - include everything. Clean tables and chairs with sand. Clean pots and pans."
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
'LUCKY' IRISH TOASTS
May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
If you're enough lucky to be Irish...
You're lucky enough!
May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold -
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.
May your pockets be heavy -
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.
If you're enough lucky to be Irish...
You're lucky enough!
May you have all the happiness
and luck that life can hold -
And at the end of all your rainbows
may you find a pot of gold.
May your pockets be heavy -
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.
IRISH EVERYDAY TOASTS
May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you're dead.
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.
May you always have a clean shirt, a clear
conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!
May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be towards us.
May neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May you have the hindsight to know where you've
been,
The foresight to know where you are going,
And the insight to know when you have gone too
far.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse
than the happiest day of your past.
May those that love us, love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.
May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.
May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead.
May your mornings bring joy
and your evenings bring peace...
May your troubles grow less
as your blessings increase!
May you get all your wishes but one,
so that you will always have something to strive for!
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.
May you always have a clean shirt, a clear
conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!
May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be towards us.
May neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.
May you have the hindsight to know where you've
been,
The foresight to know where you are going,
And the insight to know when you have gone too
far.
May the saddest day of your future be no worse
than the happiest day of your past.
May those that love us, love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.
May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.
May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head. May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead.
May your mornings bring joy
and your evenings bring peace...
May your troubles grow less
as your blessings increase!
May you get all your wishes but one,
so that you will always have something to strive for!
IRISH TOASTS to FRIENDS and FAMILY
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.
Here's to you and yours,
And to mine and ours,
And if mine and ours ever come
Across you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours,
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
To live above with the Saints we love,
Ah, that is the purest glory.
To live below with the Saints we know,
Ah, that is another story!
May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road...
And may all your friends remember
all the favours you are owed!
Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!
I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.
There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.
May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.
Here's to you and yours,
And to mine and ours,
And if mine and ours ever come
Across you and yours,
I hope you and yours will do
As much for mine and ours,
As mine and ours have done
For you and yours!
To live above with the Saints we love,
Ah, that is the purest glory.
To live below with the Saints we know,
Ah, that is another story!
May the lilt of Irish laughter
lighten every load.
May the mist of Irish magic
shorten every road...
And may all your friends remember
all the favours you are owed!
Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,
Here's to each lad and his darlin colleen,
Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.
May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!
I have known many,
and liked not a few,
but loved only one
and this toast is to you.
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