School: Abbeytown Convent N.S. (roll number 15043)

Location:
Boyle, Co. Roscommon
Teacher:
Sr. M. Columbanus
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0236, Page 123

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0236, Page 123

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  1. XML School: Abbeytown Convent N.S.
  2. XML Page 123
  3. XML “May Day Customs”

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  1. May Day Customs (continued)

    It is a custom in every Catholic home to erect an altar of flowers and candles in honour of The Mother of God.

    (continued from previous page)
    of God. Milk or butter was never given to any body on May Day as it was thought unlucky. It was also thought unlucky to throw out ashes or to sweep the floor.
    Anybody who would rise early and go out into the field and wash their faces in dew should not get sun-burnt during the coming year. Another custom is to spread May flowers on the door steps to that the people of the house would have plentiness of milk and butter during the year.
    Should a woman visit a house on May morning, she would not be allowed in as the people say it is unlucky a woman to go in first on May Day, it is also thought unlucky to meet a woman when going on a journey.
    May was a great month of devotion
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
        1. May (~639)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Maeve Turbitt
    Gender
    Female
    Address
    Boyle, Co. Roscommon
    Informant
    Mr Joseph Banahan
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Ballinameen, Co. Roscommon