Old Customs

transcribed at

Old Customs  [duchas:5008440]

Old Customs
The old people of the district of Courtnacuddy have a lot of customs which they keep from time to time.
  Everyone that has fowl is supposed to kill one in order to have good luck with the rest of the fowl for the year the chicken is to be killed on Saint Martin's Day.
  A mill should not be started on St. Martin's Day, for it is said that St. Martin was killed in a mill on the eleventh of November.
  Another custom is not to eat meat on Saint Stephen's Day and you will have good health for the year. If you eat a piece of palm on Palm Sunday you will also have good health for the year.
  On the 1st of May it is the custom to to skim the well so that you may have good churning and good luck with the butter.
  Some people dont give away any milk on May the first, as the luck of the churning would go with the milk.
  If a person shot a swallow, it is believed that the cows will milk blood.
  Another custom is, the (the) first time you hear the cuckoo take off your shoe, and look inside, maybe you will find a hair

Old Customs  [duchas:5008441]

in it, the hair will be the colour of the hair of the man or woman you will marry.
   If a man is going to the fair and he meets a red headed woman he usualy turns back, for he knows he will have no luck at the fair that day.
  If you open an umbrella in the house you will have bad luck.
 A black dog or cat is said to bring luck into the house.
 If a tooth falls out of your mouth you should bless yourself and throw it over you left shoulder.
 If you see a horse shoe lying on the ground, and if it is going in the direction you are going you are in for luck, but if it is turned the opposite direction you are unlucky.
 It is unlucky to white wash a house in May.
 Never brush the dirt out the door, or you will be sweeping out the luck.
 If you are a bridesmaid for three different persons you will never be a bride.
 If by accident you let a knife fall you may expect visitors, but if you let a fork fall you may expect a disappointment.
 It is not lucky to clean the ashes out of the fire on a Monday.
 If you see a magpie by itself you will

Old Customs  [duchas:5008442]

have sorrow, and if you see two you will have joy.
 Another custom is to eat a small piece of palm on palm sunday and you will have good health for a year.
 It is another custom to light a candle on Christmas Day.
 Most of these customs true and the people practise them from time to time.