SUPERSTITIONS
THE two great festivals of the ancient Irish were Lá Baal Tinné, or May
Day (sacred to the Sun), and Lá Samnah, or November Eve (sacred to time
Moon).
Food should be left out on November Eve for the dead, who are then
wandering about. If the food disappears, it is a sign that the spirits have
taken it, for no mortal would dare to touch or eat of the food so left.
Never turn your head to look if you fancy you hear footsteps behind you
on that night; for the dead are walking then, and their glance would kill.
In November a distaff is placed under time head of a young man at night
to make him dream of the girl he is destined to marry.
If a ball of worsted is thrown into a lime-kiln and wound up till the end
is caught by invisible hands, the person who winds it calls out, "Who holds
the ball?" and the answer will be the name of the future husband or wife.
But the experiment must be made only at midnight, and in silence and
alone.
Whitsuntide is a most unlucky time; horses foaled then will grow up
dangerous and kill some one.
A child born at Whitsuntide will have an evil temper, and may commit a
murder.
Beware also of water at. Whitsuntide, for an evil power is on the waves
and the lakes and the rivers, and a boat. may be swamped and men
drowned unless a bride steers; then the danger ceases.
To turn away ill-luck from a child born at that time, a grave must be dug
and the infant laid in it for a few minutes. After this process the evil spell is
broken, and the child is safe.
If any one takes ill at Whitsuntide there is great danger of death, for the
evil spirits are on the watch to carry off victims, and no sick person should
be left alone at this time, nor in time dark. Light is a great safeguard, as well
as fire, against malific influences.
In old times at Whitsuntide blood was poured out as a libation, to the
evil spirits; and the children and cattle were passed through two lines of
fire.
On May morning the Skellig rocks go out full sail to meet the opposite
rocks, which advance half way to meet them, and then slowly retire like
retreating ships.
At Midsummer the fairies try to pass round the Baal fires in a whirlwind
in order to extinguish them, but the spirits may be kept off by throwing fire
at them. Then the young men are free to leap over the burning embers and
to drive the cattle through the flames, while coals of fire must also be passed
three times over and three times under the body of each animal.
Foot-worship was a homage to Buddha, and it was also a Christian
ceremony to wash the feet of time saints. The Irish had many superstitions