The Year in IrelandThis volume describes how the round of the year, with its cycle of festivals and seasonal work, was observed in the Ireland of yesterday. We follow the rhythm of the year from New Year to Easter, May Day to Harvest and Christmas along the chain of highdays and feastdays, St Brighid's Day, The Borrowed Days, Midsummer, St Swithin's Day, Lunasa, The Pattern Day, Samhain, Martinmas and Christmas. fishing boat - belief and usage - feasting and merrymaking. Picturesque customs are revealed - some forgotten, some forbidden, some still familiar, such as 'the making of St Brighid's cross - marriage divinations - watching the dancing of the sun on a hilltop on Easter morning - going to the Skelligs - cock-throwing - bullbaiting - herring processions - the swimming of the horses on Lunasa - and many others. A multi-coloured tapestry. years experience of research into Irish folk tradition. Irish Country People, Folktales of the Irish Countryside and The Pleasant Land of Ireland |
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agus Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin animal Archaeological Society ashes Béaloideas Biddy blessed bonfire boys Brighid's cross burned bush butter byre cake called candles carried cattle celebrated century ceremony church Connaught corn County Armagh County Cork County Donegal County Galway County Kerry County Limerick County Waterford cows crops custom dance decorated dish Donegal door dressed drink Dublin dum dee Easter Sunday eggs fairies farm farmers feast festival fire flowers Galway gathered girls Hallow E'en harvest held honour household hung Ireland Irish Journal Kildare Kilkenny killed known Leinster Lent meal meat Midsummer milk Monday morning Munster National Museum neighbours night occasion parish Patrick's Cross person places pole popular potatoes prayers ribbons saint sheaf Shrove Tuesday St Brighid's St John's Eve St Patrick's Cross St Patrick's Day St Stephen's Day stick straw tells town tradition Ulster Folklife usually weather Wexford wren young