|
>> St. Stephen's Night
He dipped his wing in a bunk or barrel of beer. When they are finished rhyming they collect the money and go to the next house. When they are tired rinking they share the money. George Pratt, Rush Road. (BNS, 1937-38) Old Customs Now as regards old customs, the first one I mention was giving an infant an egg and a pinch of salt on it’s first visit to a house, I have read of this being parts of England as well as Ireland. It was meant to wish the baby a long and prosperous life. This practise has died out altogether, which is not surprising when you consider the present price of eggs. When a cow calved it was the rule to send a present of a can of beasons to a neighbour . I always loved to see the beasons come to our house; it meant we could have pancakes for tea. Mrs. Branagan (SHS, 1950) |
22 23 |
May 1st. 1900 Motor cars were yet to come, and hens and ducks strayed around the streets and the children played there in safety. On the 1st. May every street had its May bush. These bushes were decorated with bunches of primroses, wallflowers and bluebells and of coarse candles. Hours were spent tying these on the tree and then it was propped up in an old bucket. Indeed, I remember once, some boys dug a hole in the road and the bush was placed in it. When dusk came on, the thrilling moment arrived for the lighting of the candles. Then a ring was formed and we all danced around the bush singing the same old songs year after year e.g. Green Grorel, Open the Gates and Let the Bride in, Down in the Meadows, and Dig for Gold and Dig for Silver. In some of the old songs a boy’s name was coupled with a girl’s. When this part came along the girl usually looked very demure while the boy responded by dropping out of the ring and running away as fast as he could. Mrs Branagan (SHS, 1949) Children's Games etc. C.1930 Then, as now, Skerries was a children's paradise - both winter and summer. In winter the girl's most popular game was Hares and Hounds which took us on a cross-country chase. |