The traditions of the May Day bush and redheads
Being a very traditional lot, the Irish have always acknowledged May day in some form or another.
The tradition of decorating the May bush (whitethorn or hawthorn) or even placing it in the fireplace is now almost extinct however.
Another piseog involved the making of the sign of the cross using butter. This cross was usually made over a cowshed door in the hope that Daisy would keep producing. No fire could be lit on the morning of May day, and if a man lit a pipe he'd have to smoke it before he left the house.
My favourite is the one that if on the way to the fair you encountered a redheaded woman, you had no choice but to retreat home. You were cursed.
How times have changed? Modern May day traditions include smashing the nearest McDonald's window.
tags:may day
Published by Colm.
The tradition of decorating the May bush (whitethorn or hawthorn) or even placing it in the fireplace is now almost extinct however.
Another piseog involved the making of the sign of the cross using butter. This cross was usually made over a cowshed door in the hope that Daisy would keep producing. No fire could be lit on the morning of May day, and if a man lit a pipe he'd have to smoke it before he left the house.
My favourite is the one that if on the way to the fair you encountered a redheaded woman, you had no choice but to retreat home. You were cursed.
How times have changed? Modern May day traditions include smashing the nearest McDonald's window.
tags:may day
Published by Colm.
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