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  3. Balla (C.)

School: Balla (C.)

Location:
Balla, Co. Mayo
Teacher:
Katie M. Walker
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0096, Page 14

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0096, Page 14

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  1. XML School: Balla (C.)
  2. XML Page 14
  3. XML “Local Marriage Customs”

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  1. Local Marriage Customs (continued)

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    the house would smash an oatmeal cake on her head and leave a jug of punch on the table. The girl would pick up the pieces of the cake and give each one a piece. The man would take the jug of punch and give each one a drink. This custom is not carried out now.
    The first Sunday after the marriage is called "treat" Sunday. The couple would not go to mass on that Sunday. They would go to town in the meantime and buy some iron for the house and presents. The presents were called "fairns". The couple would give the "fairns" to those they liked on "Treat" Sunday.
    The girl's mother would borrow a brooden of eggs and put them down to hatch. If the chickens came out they would have a family but if they didn't they wouldn't they have any children. That custom came from Bishop Mc Hale's niece.
    Nowadays very little customs are kept up. I only know of two, namely. the flinging of a boot and tongs when leaving the house for the church. The straw-boys visit the house on the night of the wedding. They dress in old clothes with straw tied around them. They try to get the bride to dance with them. Sometimes they do not know the bride and someone will tell them it is another girl and they dance with her.
    There are certain months and days considered unlucky for marriage. June is the luckiest month of the year for marriages. There is an old rhyme telling the days of the
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. activities
      1. social activities (~7)
        1. rites of passage (~573)
          1. marriage (~4,283)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Katie M. Walker
    Gender
    Female