Irish Customs
On what day of the week was it regarded as being unlucky to cut your fingernails? |
Sunday |
What does the term 'luck penny' or 'luck money' mean? |
This means returning a small portion of the sale price to the seller when a deal is made |
What feastday is celebrated on February 1st? |
Saint Brigid's Day |
On St Brigid's Day people went from house to house carrying a straw doll. What was the doll called? |
A Brideog |
What is St Brigid's cross made from? |
Rushes |
What was put up into the rafters of a house, on St Brigid's Day, to protect against evil spirits? |
A straw from the Christmas nativity scene |
If a person drank nettle soup on May 1st, it was believed they would be free of what for a year? |
Rheumatism |
What day was condsidered lucky to sow potatoes? |
Good Friday |
What birds flying directly over a house were considered an omen of death? |
Crows |
When and what was 'Nollaig na mBan'? |
January 6th - 'Little Women’s Christmas' when men would take over the housework for the day! |
In the west of Ireland what was a 'Foidin Mara'? |
A 'stray sod' or 'enchanted' piece of grass whereby a person stepping on it would become disorientated and lost |
It was believed unlucky to knit at night until you were certain who were asleep? |
The sheep |
A stocking filled with hot potatoes and applied to the throat was a cure for what ailment? |
Tonsillitis |
What was a besom and what was it used for? |
A roughly fashioned short-handled sweeping brush made from a clump of birch cuttings, normally used to clean the hearth area of the kitchen |
What was a ciseán ('cish-awn')? |
A household basket crafted from reeds |
What is meant by the term 'keening'? |
When women family members would cry and wail over a relative who had died |
What was a 'Banshee'? |
A fairy woman reputed to wail and cry at the impending death of members of certain families |
Why did unmarried girls place slice of wedding cake under their pillows? |
In the hope that they dream of their future husband |
What is a Seanachaí? |
A traditional Irish storyteller/historian |
Allegedly what will happen if you kiss the Blarney Stone? |
You will get 'the gift of the gab (talk)' |
What was the most popular way of finding a husband or wife in Ireland long ago? |
Matchmaking |
A famous annual matchmaking festival takes place in what county? |
Lisdoonvarna, County Clare |
Who or what were the 'Straw-boys'? |
Groups of uninvited revellers dressed in top hats, masks and skirts of straw who arrived at weddings where they sang and danced |
What day are you likely to see 'Wrenboys'? |
St Stephen's Day |
What is another name for 'Wrenboys'? |
The Mummers |
What was the significance of a horse or donkey shoe nailed above the door in an Irish house? |
To bring good luck |
Who would be the preferred first visitor to a house on New Year's Day and why? |
A tall dark handsome man would bring good luck |
What New Year's Day visitor was believed to bring hardship and grief to a house? |
A red haired girl |
What benefit was associated with May morning dew? |
It was believed to be good for the complexion |