Conway Mill Trust » Irish Culture and Customs

Little Christmas Tradition in Ireland

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:00:29 +0000

All Christmas decorations are taken down on January 6, Little Christmas. To do this earlier brings bad luck.

New Year’s Day Bath

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:19:20 +0000

If you take a bath on New Year’s Day it is unlucky. If you do you will lose a friend.

Irish Wassailing Tradition

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:50:05 +0000

Wassailing or caroling traditionally takes place on New Year’s Eve and was originally held around the oldest tree in the apple orchard. The first cider crop was poured on the roots of the apple tree to thank the tree spirits for the crop of apples and to ensure a good crop the following year.

Irish Calendar

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:16:57 +0000

It is bad luck to open a new calendar before the old year is out.

St. Stephen’s Day Tradition in Ireland

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:00:06 +0000

Originally on St. Stephen’s Day (December 26) young boys would go from house to house, with a dead wren tied to a pole, singing songs. The legend states that the wren betrayed St. Stephen by making noise when the saint was in hiding.

Lighted Candle Custom in Ireland

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:02:37 +0000

A lighted candle is always placed in the window as a welcome to the Holy Family and to strangers. It is usually lit by the youngest child and extinguished by a girl named ‘Mary.’

Mistletoe

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:58:52 +0000

In the Celtic language, ‘mistletoe’ means ‘all-heal.’ It was believed to have miraculous powers such as healing disease, bringing good luck and doing away with bad.

Irish Custom of Decorating with Holly

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:24:15 +0000

Holly growing in the wild shelters small animals. The Irish custom of decorating with holly goes back to pre-Christian times when the people believed that it sheltered the ‘good people’ and if they brought it into their homes it would bring the ‘good people’ out of the cold and good luck to the family.

Halloween Trivia

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:35:01 +0000

The ‘grogach’ is a small, hairy half-human half-fairy creature who attaches itself to a family, helping with the chores. He asks only for a bowl of milk as payment. He resembles a little old man and is found in the north of Ireland, usually Co. Antrim.

A ‘banshee’ is a female ancestral spirit who warns members of ancient Irish families of impending death. Any family who does not have a ‘banshee’ of its own is considered ‘upstarts.’

The period from October 31 to November 2 is regarded as one of the most important times of the year and is celebrated with feasting and merrymaking. The Halloween bonfire is to encourage dreams of a future husband or wife.

Lunasa (Lughnasa) Garland Sunday

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:13:27 +0000

Lunasa (Lughnasa) or Garland Sunday is also known as Fraughn Sunday. (A fraughn is a small berry which has ripened and people now enjoy the fruits they have gathered.) It is celebrated on the last Sunday in July and marks the end of summer. It is also called Crom Dubh or the dark, crooked one who was the most feared of all the pagan gods. On this day in July, pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick (2,533 ft.) in Co. Mayo, many in their bare feet. It has been a place of pilgrimage since pagan times. Legend says St. Patrick prayed and fasted on the top of the mountain for forty days and forty nights. New potatoes are dug in the following week and the incantation of “Death to the red-haired girl” is heard. The red-haired girl symbolizes “famine.”