School: Robertson (roll number 13372)
- Location:
- Ballintra, Co. Donegal
- Teacher: Somhairle Mac Ádhaimh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 1033, Page 169
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- XML School: Robertson
- XML Page 169
- XML “May Customs”
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- There is a lot of customs attached with May day and May eve. A very old custom is to rise very early on May morning and wash your face in the dew. It is said if you do this, you will always be lovely. Another old custom is to put May flowers on the doors and windows of the house or the cows byre. It is supposed to keep away bad luck. Another custom is for all the unmarried to go out and gather yarrow. You pull ten stalks, at the pulling of each stalk you say,
“Good-morrow, good-morrow fair yarrow,
Trice good-morrow to thee.
I hope before this time to-morrow,
Thou will show my true love to me.” Then they throw away the tenth stalk and put the other nine under their(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Olive Dinsmore
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Inishfad, Co. Donegal
