Rebuilding Lives in Northern Ireland
Posted in Irish Culture and Customs on Aug 9th, 2010
Every year in Killorglin, Co. Kerry a group of people go up into the mountains to catch a goat for the annual “Puck Fair.” A young girl from the 6th class is named “Queen” and she is the one who will crown the goat. The goat is put in a cage in the middle of […]
Posted in Irish Culture and Customs on Aug 1st, 2010
Lughnasa is the Irish word for August and since this was the beginning of the harvest season, it was a time to celebrate. Usually the first weekend of the month was set aside for gatherings. Games and sports were tried by the young men and the girls picked berries. “Pattern Days” were observed also. This […]
Posted in Irish Culture and Customs on Jul 12th, 2010
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 (July 25) and marks the end of summer. It has been a place of pilgrimage since pagan […]
Posted in Irish Culture and Customs on Apr 28th, 2010
A bonfire was lit on May Eve and wasn’t extinguished until sunset of May Day. Chairs were set up around the bonfire to “sit out the wake of winter.” “New fire” had to be brought back to the home from the flames. In some areas, it was considered unlucky to bathe, sail or whitewash as […]
Posted in Irish Culture and Customs on Jan 5th, 2010
Traditionally, the period between Samhaim and Shrovetide (the Tuesday before Lent) was dominated by thoughts of romance, matchmaking, and marriage. During this slack time for farm work, energies could be diverted to affairs of the heart. Church laws exerted a bit of extra pressure for quick success. Even into the 20th Century, the Church in […]
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