Irish American Mom

Celebrating Our Irish Heritage Together

In The Words Of Saint Patrick

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Today’s the day when the whole world is a little bit Irish.

But this year, rather than getting carried away with the wearing of the green, or drowning of the shamrock with green beer, or indulging in fluorescent green “Irish” food, I thought I would simply take a look at some of the words of the man himself to celebrate his feast day.

St. Patrick – A Simple and Humble Man:

 

Here is how St. Patrick introduces himself in his Confessio, which was handed down orally in Ireland for centuries, until it was finally committed to manuscript in 807 AD in the Book of Armagh.

 

“My name is Patrick.

I am a sinner,

a simple country person

and the least of all believers.”

~from St. Patrick’s Confessio

 

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Today we think of a confession as a profession of sin, but in St. Patrick’s Confessio he tells the story of his capture and return to Ireland, praises the greatness of God, and professes the depth of his faith.

 

“Those who wish may laugh and insult.

But I will not be silent,

nor will I hide the signs and wonders

which the Lord has shown me…”

~ from St. Patrick’s Confessio

 

When speaking of Ireland St. Patrick said …

 

“It is there that I wish

to spend my life until I die,

if the Lord should grant it to me.”

~ The Words of St. Patrick about Ireland

from his Confessio.

 

To this very day, many feel the same affinity as St. Patrick for the land and people of Ireland.

 

The Breastplate of St. Patrick:

 

St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a prayer said to have been written by St. Patrick around 433 AD to strengthen his faith and courage as he worked to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity.  

 

This prayer beautifully expresses the depth of our national saint’s spirituality and faith.

Here are my favorite excerpts…..

 

“I arise today, through

The strength of heaven,

The light of the sun,

The radiance of the moon,

The splendor of fire,

The speed of lightning,

The swiftness of wind,

The depth of the sea,

The stability of the earth,

The firmness of rock.”

~ from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

http://www.flickr.com/photos/starbeard/87295773/in/faves-66087561@N08/
St. Patrick Blesses A Rainbow

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“I arise today, through

God’s strength to pilot me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s host to save me.”

 ~ from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/250674121/in/photostream/

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“I arise today

Through a mighty strength,

the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

of the Creator of creation.”

~ from St. Patrick’s Breastplate

 

Wishing you all a very happy St. Patrick’s Day. May you feel the courage and faith of St. Patrick in all you do today.

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

Why Celebrating New Year In January Is A Relatively New Custom In Ireland

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Did you know that marking the beginning of each new year on January 1st is a relatively new custom in Ireland? Believe it or not, this practice is less than 300 years old.

Until recent years New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations were very subdued in Ireland. The Irish national folklore archive does not hold much evidence of these dates being cause for major festivities in centuries past.

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Now let’s face it, the world just keeps on spinning around the sun, and takes a little over 365 days to accomplish this feat. The exact date when we decide this cycle begins and ends, and a new year should be celebrated, is completely arbitrary.

And so since today is officially New Year’s Eve in Ireland and America, I thought I would dedicate this blog post to the history of New Year celebrations, and how January 1st became the arbitrary day chosen to celebrate the New Year on both sides of the Atlantic.

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A New Year History Lesson:

 

It was not until 1752 that the New Year was officially decreed to start on January 1st in Ireland.  This was the year when Great Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar rather than the Julian calendar.  Since Ireland was ruled by England at that time, we too adopted the new date to mark the New Year. Up until then the New Year was legally declared to start on March 25th.

Now until Christianity took hold in Ireland the New Year had always been celebrated at Samhain or Halloween on the last day of October when the harvest had been gathered. Even after the church officially changed the start of the New Year to March 25th, many rural Irish folk continued to celebrate Samhain as the start of the Celtic new year, and St. Brigid’s Day on February 1st as the beginning of spring.

There are many old Irish customs and traditions associated with Halloween and St. Brigid’s Day, but they’re are relatively few associated with our celebration of the New Year.

 

January Vs. March For New Year Celebrations:

 

Originally Julius Ceasar decided January 1st was the perfect day to start the New Year since the month was named after the Roman god, Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward. Janus was also the god of doors and gates, so good ol’ Julius Caesar decided this symbolism was perfect for marking the New Year.

After Rome fell in the 5th century Christianity spread throughout Europe. Celebrating the new year on January 1st was seen as a pagan Roman tradition, so the powers that be in the Christian church decided to move the date to March 25th.  This was the feast of the Annunciation, when Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel that she was to be the mother of Jesus.

Now there was little unity back in those days.  Some countries chose Christmas Day, December 25th to mark the start of their new year, while others chose to change the day every year to coincide with Easter Sunday.

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Out Of Sync With The Solar Year:

 

But troubled times were a brewing for calendar watchers.  When Julius Caesar created his calendar based upon the astronomical spin of the world around the sun, he counted 365 days but failed to calculate the extra 6 hours required to complete the cycle.  Calendrical chaos ensued as the Julian calendar became misaligned with the solar year.

By 1582 the difference had grown to 10 days, requiring holidays and feasts to be changed frequently to match the solar year.  Pope Gregory XIII was fed up with having to re-set the date for the Spring Equinox and Easter each year.

And so he decided to devise a new calendrical system which implemented the addition of a single leap day every four years to keep the solar years and calendrical years all in sync. He also decided to restore January 1st as the official first day of each year.

Catholic countries, like France and Italy, adopted the new Gregorian calendar quickly. But Protestant countries like England were hesitant to accept the calendar created by a Roman Pope.

Since Ireland and America were ruled by England, the acceptance of January 1st as the day for celebrating the New Year did not occur until 1752.

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Old Irish New Year’s Customs:

 

And so you see, celebrating New Year in January is a custom less than 300 years old in Ireland.

To tell you the truth, in times gone by, the main thing Irish folks did on New Year’s day was simply nothing at all.

An old custom dictated that nothing should be brought into or out of a house on New Year’s Day. All water that might be required should be gathered from the well before sunset on New Year’s Eve. All water, both clean and dirty had to be kept inside the house until after the dawn of day on the 1st of January.

The night of December 31st was deemed the anniversary of the date Jesus changed water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana, and for this reason no water should be thrown out, or added overnight for fear the Lord would think the household greedy. 

In last year’s New Year’s post I shared some other customs like once again lighting a candle in the window, and how bread was thrown at the door to ward off hunger in the coming year.

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Foreseeing The Future At New Year:

 

It does not appear our forefathers made New Year’s resolutions as we do today.  They were not so keen on goal setting and planning, but seemed to trust their future to fate, and of course the weather, which dictated the destiny of a rural farming people, like the Irish.

One natural sign used as an omen of good and bad fortune at New Year was the water level of local rivers.  If the river was running high on New Year’s Day, it was a sign that commodities and food would be expensive that coming year. If the river ran low then necessities would be inexpensive.

Another old superstition dictated that no money should be spent on New Year’s Day for fear it would foretell a year of major expenses ahead.

If someone visited a house on New Year’s Day they should always bring a gift, since their lack of giving might indicate the house would be empty throughout the coming year.

As a result, little visiting was done on this date.  People believed that by giving away something from their own home they might be giving away their luck. It was safest to sit home and keep everything you possessed under your own roof, rather than visiting neighbors and sharing your luck.

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The Cycle Of Life:

 

And so, January 1st was a very quiet day in Ireland in olden times. Women’s Little Christmas, celebrated on January 6th, was marked with far more festivities.  Women were celebrated for all their work over the twelve days of Christmas.

Withered holly was put away and saved so that it could be burned in the fire on Pancake Tuesday, the day before Lent began.

Important Irish festivities were linked through ritual and January 1st did not feature much in this traditional holiday pattern.  After Christmas ended on January 6th, the next big day for celebration was February 1st, St. Brigid’s Day, when the coming of spring was welcomed, and the cycle of life was renewed by nature.

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Celebrating The New Year Irish Style:

 

And so, if like me you find yourself a little under-awed by the razzmatazz and hoopla of New Year celebrations, don’t mentally beat yourself up.  

As you sit at home, watching the craziness of celebrations at College Green in Dublin, or at Times Square in New York, just raise a glass and toast your Irishness.

Let’s face it, our avoidance of setting resolutions we know we will fail to keep, and our inclination to sit back, relax and do nothing as we ring in the New Year, are simply expressions of our genetic inheritance.

The Irish have never done much to celebrate a January New Year, and so this year I plan to religiously adhere to that age old tradition.

 

Happy New Year To All!

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

The History And Origins Of St. Patrick

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Today we celebrate St. Patrick, and everything that is Irish – our customs and culture, our language, our heritage, our food and drink. And I raise my glass to you – the readers of my blog.

Thank you all for following my ramblings and recipes. I appreciate your support and your comments throughout my years of blogging. It has been a wonderful journey exploring what it means to be Irish and American.

http://vintagerio.com/saint_patricks_day_g102-saint_patrick_s_day_p14607.htmlImage Credit

A very happy St. Patrick’s Day from Irish American Mom.

 

And to honor our favorite saint I thought we might explore some facts or suppositions about his origins and evangelical works.

St. Patrick’s birthplace is debated. No one knows if it’s Kilpatrick in Scotland or Bannavem Taburniae (thought to have been in Wales but not on any map!)

Scholars claim he first returned to Ireland as a Bishop landing in either Strangford Loch, Co. Down or Slane, Co. Meath.

Legend holds he banished snakes from Ireland. But Ireland as an island nation was cut off from the rest of Europe at the end of the Ice Age. Were snakes symbolic of paganism? Did St. Patrick really banish all the snakes from Ireland?

The good folks at Murphy’s of Ireland created this fantastic infographic detailing the life of St. Patrick.

Origins of Saint PatrickImage Credit

Thanks to Murphy of Ireland for dedicating so much time to putting this graphic together and sharing it with us.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings),

 

Irish American Mom

Leprechaun Tricks And Pranks For St. Patrick’s Day

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Leprechauns are up to all their old tricks now that St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. They love to pop in for an unexpected visit, leaving their mark wherever they go.

I love how American teachers and parents embrace our favorite Irish holiday, welcoming these little Irish pranksters into their classrooms and homes for some Paddy’s Day fun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/4434076788/in/photostream/Image Credit

 

When my little girl was in kindergarten she arrived home just before St. Patrick’s Day exuding pure leprechaun glee. She couldn’t wait to tell me about the shenanigans of their very own classroom leprechaun.

 

“He hid all the green markers,” she exclaimed.

 

“Then he left a shamrock on our tables after lunch.”

 

“Our leprechaun left footprints all over our desks,” added her equally enthusiastic brother, in a tone saying “our leprechaun is better than yours”.

Then all four of my kids looked at me questioningly:

 

“Do you think leprechauns will visit our house this year?”

 

Let me confess – my heart sank.  My ever practical Irish side thought of all the “work” involved in teaming up with leprechauns.

I grew up in Ireland at a time when St. Patrick’s Day meant going to Mass, wearing a rosette on my coat, saying a few prayers, singing Hail Glorious Saint Patrick, and gorging on sweets.

© Copyright Richard Hoare and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License
© Copyright Richard Hoare and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License

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I just wanted to tell my kids, there wasn’t a chance of leprechauns setting foot in our house.

But I saw the longing looks in my kids’ fun-loving eyes, and I knew I needed to welcome the leprechauns into our home, even if this meant facing a little inevitable havoc.

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2013/03/13/louisvilles-st-patricks-day-parade-2013/

After a quick internet search to find out more about these St. Patrick’s Day leprechaun high jinks I soon discovered my fellow Americans really embrace magical capers and tomfoolery.  I decided I’m game to join in some leprechaun malarkey, spoofs and escapades.

And so this year, I thought I might share the leprechaun antics witnessed in our house over the years in the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day.

 

 

1.Footprints, Footprints Everywhere

 

Leprechauns leave footprints or shamrocks all over our house.

Try as I might to hide those green markers every year, he finds them and leaves his mark in the craziest of places.

Green footprints in classroom
A bit big for a leprechaun’s footprint, but maybe an Irish giant ????

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Flour has been spilled on my counter top with little footprints running through the white field of “snow”.

Chalk footprints are sometimes seen on the side walk outside our front door.

And sometimes, our little mischievous fellow leaves a trail of gold foil rolos on our stairs, or around our coffee table.

 

2.Leprechaun Toilet Fun

 

Leprechauns have turned our toilet water green.  He must start messing with green food coloring, adding a few drops to the toilet water.

And the toilet paper is a whole other story.  You can find shamrocks drawn on it, or it can be sealed closed with a leprechaun sticker.

Green TowelsImage Credit

Green soap and hand washes have appeared overnight. He even put up a fresh set of green towels one year, with a note – “Only green towels on St. Patrick’s Day.”

 

3. Leprechaun Kitchen Tricks

 

One St. Patrick’s Day we woke up to find our kitchen cabinets wide open with little notes pinned on the doors.

I have heard tell of leprechauns spilling silverware out of drawers. Some of these crazy guys turn cups and saucepans upside down, and leave half-empty glasses of green milk on counter tops.

Green cookiesImage Credit

And be careful if you are partial to Lucky Charms. They’re not past stealing all the charms out of your favorite cereal box.

They only like green Apple Jacks, and have even been known to thread them into a lucky green bracelet.

I think I’d like a jelly bean bracelet in green, white and orange this year.

 

4. Furniture Shenanigans

 

The little pranksters who show up at our house often turn our chairs and other furniture upside down.

Luckily our little rascal has only wreaked his havoc with small chairs and things that are easy to turn right way round.

I have him warned not to touch a big piece of furniture.  My kids laugh when I start shouting out to unseen leprechauns. But who knows what that little trickster could get up to this year, if I don’t give him a good warning.

 

5. Fun With Shoes On St. Patrick’s Day

 

Leprechauns love to leave chocolate coins in shoes around our house.

 Leprechaun ShoesImage Credit

 

We have found the laces in our sneakers have been changed to none other than green shoe laces.

6.  A Little Doggy Fun For St. Pat’s:

 

Leprechauns have been known to put green bandanas on family dogs, or any pet that stands still long enough to be adorned in green.

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2013/03/13/louisvilles-st-patricks-day-parade-2013

The loony leprechaun who visits our house has even tied a shamrock scarf around our sheepdog.

 

7.  Leprechaun Blockades

 

Leprechauns use crepe paper to block the way out of bedroom doors.

What a surprise my little one’s got when they woke up one Paddy’s Day morning to find there was a paper ribbon barricading their path.

 

8.  Balloon Tricks for St. Patrick’s Day

 

Our little Irish man leaves green balloons on our living room floor.

Green balloonImage Credit

Sometimes he gets very careless and puts dimes inside the balloons. He needs to be more careful with his treasure.

 

9. Notes and Jokes From Little Irish Leprechauns

 

Our little fellow loves to leave little pieces of paper lying around the house with leprechaun jokes or taunting notes printed on them.

Here are three of my favorite kid-friendly leprechaun jokes.  Some jokes are way over my kids heats, but I’m happy to say my kids got these jokes even when they were pretty young.

 

Q: Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day?
A: Regular rocks are too heavy.

 

Q: What type of bow cannot be tied?
A: A rain-bow!

 

Q: Where can you always find gold?
A: In the dictionary!

 

Leprechaun by the cliffs
Achill Island, County Mayo © Copyright Suzanne Mischyshyn and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License

Image Credit

 

Leprechauns leave “You Can’t Catch Me Notes” all over our house.

Our leprechaun has some favorite places for leaving his calling card.

He has scribbled his message on the inside of the shower curtain.

The dry erase board on the side of the fridge is another spot he likes – that’s my favorite one. Sometimes he uses a WASHABLE marker and writes on shower curtains and other plastic surfaces. Other times he just leaves his “You Can’t Catch Me” message on little shamrock shaped notes.

 Snow LeprechaunImage Credit

10. Leprechaun Dress-Up

 

And finally, leprechauns love to dress anything and everything up in Irish green. Dolls and teddy bears are fair game.

Leprechaun GeeseImage Credit

And how about these garden statues – I love these Irish geese I found on Flickr. They give a whole knew meaning to the term ‘The Wild Geese.’

 

Silly McGilly

 

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2014/09/17/silly-mcgilly-giveaway-irelands-magical-leprechaun/And finally if anyone is interested in exploring more leprechaun prank ideas, why not check out the Silly McGilly website.

Silly is a plush leprechaun toy you can place in your window to let the leprechauns know you are game for some Irish fun.   Here’s a review of Silly McGilly and all of his shenanigans.

They have a wonderful list of tricks for the home, and pranks for the classroom.

 

 

And so, there you have it, a little round up of leprechaun fun.

I hope you all have a little leprechaun craic this weekend.  But be warned! The leprechauns are in the mood for pinching.

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

 

 

Irish Halloween Superstitions Foretelling Romance, Love And Marriage

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Move over Valentine’s Day – Halloween is nearly here, and in olden days in Ireland, this was the time of year for predicting romances, just waiting to flourish.

The Irish were, and still are, a very superstitious race. Since we will be celebrating Halloween at the end of this month (or all through this month, if you live in America), I thought why not explore some old Irish superstitions associated with this holiday, especially those centering around romance, love and marriage.

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Halloween is a great time for fortune telling and divination according to Irish tradition.  In days gone by Halloween night was a time when the Irish believed the future and past coincided, and for one night only every year, all time frames existed in the present. If the future collides with the present at Halloween, what better time could there be for looking into what the future may hold.

For all those in search of someone special to share their future, Halloween is the best night of the year to try to figure out who might be waiting just for you. Well that’s what the Irish believed anyway.

Here are some simple, romantic, prophetic tests from Ireland’s Celtic past and from around the British Isles…..

 www.vintagerio.comImage Credit

The Cabbage Test:

 

For those interested in finding out their future partner’s wealth then all you need is a good old cabbage patch on this magical night.

Just follow these steps to find out what the future holds …..

  • Don a blindfold.
  • Run into a field of growing cabbages.
  • Search around the ground for a nice big head of cabbage, and yank it out of the ground, roots and all.
  • Now, uncover your eyes, and check out those cabbage roots.
  • If you extricate the vegetable with roots intact and a good amount of earth still attached, then your beloved will have oodles of money.

But don’t get too excited. You still don’t know if he’ll be cranky or kind.

Head on home with your newly harvested cabbage and cook it up Irish style.

If your cabbage is bitter, then I’m afraid a sour, old, so-and-so may be in your future. But if your cabbage is sweet, then your fate holds a kindhearted, loving mate.

The cabbage test was easy to complete if you lived in rural Ireland many years ago, but I’m afraid we urban dwellers today have little access to cabbage patches. So then, your best bet for predicting love is to move on to the bonfire test.

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/leeco/15179907931/in/photolist-p8oZLx-oN589j-p7Bq7D-pxA3CT-oteYxQ-orP56S-p3FEkb-pttggM-ooTouY-oxePA4-p7Ctn5-ovDoy6-oL2mH8-ow3M9c-paC6hf-pxyh5y-oyrCAy-oZPRvZ-p6GcDi-oNZzWs-oT7wgY-pe637U-phsU6w-ocFCuv-oDopTW-pxo3De-p8zfsw-oT7oon-ovCTQf-oF9xRk-oT7pUt-oT7X1Y-pam4tr-oK8AU7-oo7umd-opQ46b-ow5T3C-pazDEN-oT8iM4-pakNXH-oMxTqF-oT88kq-p8zFRC-pntk1S-ouWLGr-obsWxu-oT67fm-pEr7y1-opRrac-puqmd7Image Credit

The Bonfire Test:

 

A Halloween bonfire is touted as a way to help envision a future partner. Bonfires featured significantly in ancient, Celtic celebrations of Halloween or Samhain. Here’s what must be done to encourage dreams of your future love.

Simply snip a few strands of your hair, and drop them into the burning embers of a Halloween fire.

The magical flames of your burning hair will encourage vivid dreams of your future spouse. I hope he or she will fulfill all your dreams.

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/robbertholf/15241805765/in/photolist-pdSeQz-7zJTpB-7WhtNb-9C3Ybd-awf8T-kctbSc-e7GxYf-46NPSw-hEDBo9-5Yxqfi-bVhTNf-5wyfbU-ifg23C-p2fS3-5YBD8d-cvWvoL-dsYusi-65gpn7-6L6Hfj-8KrFjx-7zJSAB-8MaNFp-5F2f1N-fyDVNk-9cYfci-fr3U4A-kctgMx-4J6XP-9wtYoo-3eRwDK-8HMU3G-5WCY1r-ygyPR-jf9zuz-bwTm3w-5ddh2J-kJVW2b-7GzyYJ-2YzNc8-5nZHiq-9cZCKS-JMpS1-7AYGc-e9gQQf-CCkaJ-6Z2wEs-oM4XNS-5oifvJ-ih5xo4-h2P7nq/Image Credit

The Apple Peel Test:

 

Apples were also used for telling the future on Halloween night. When I was a little girl in Dublin, most home owners shared apples and nuts with trick or treaters, rather than candy or sweets. In recent years I have come to appreciate how this custom was rooted in age old traditions.

The apple peel love test may have originated in Scotland rather than Ireland, but this trick was practiced throughout the British Isles. A little apple peeling skill is required for this one.

First you must peel an apple all in one go, creating a long strip of peel. Love awaits only for those who can remove the peel with no breakages.

The peel must then be thrown over the shoulder. As it falls the peel may land to reveal the initial of a would-be suitor.

Love is an apple peel – it sounds like the name of a song.

 HazelnutsImage Credit

Hazlenut Trials:

 

If you’re still interested in finding out if your spouse will be bitter or sweet, and don’t have time to go pulling cabbages to cook, then never fear. A hazelnut will reveal your future love’s temperament, just as accurately as a trusted cabbage.

Simply pick out the hazelnut you believe represents your future love. Crack the shell and taste. You’ll quickly learn if a sweet or bitter nut awaits in your future.

And there’s even more romantic news to be uncovered through these powerful nuts.

If you want to know if your future marriage will be full of happiness, then you and your partner must each choose a hazelnut.

Light a match between the two nuts (only do this on a flameproof surface), and watch how your two nuts react, not only to each other, but to the flame of love burning between them.

Remember our forebears had stone hearths for these fiery tricks, so don’t do anything dangerous.

If the nuts burn quickly, then alack and alas, the future marriage may not be strong, and may be at great risk of crumbling when life gets tough.

Now if your two nuts do a little dance and move away from each other, then proceed to marriage with caution.

If your hazelnuts hop closer together, moving towards the flame of love, then future happiness is yours.

Believe it or not, these trusted nuts hold even more secrets of the future. Hazelnuts can be used to choose between potential beaus.

In the past, inquisitive young women determined which admirer might be faithful, by choosing three nuts, and naming them after the young men she wished to test. The three nuts were placed upon the bars of the fire grate.

If a nut cracked or jumped, then that lover might be unfaithful. If the nut burned brightly then that beau held a flame for the girl performing the hazelnut trial.

This test could be taken a step further by adding a fourth nut, named after the girl. If her nut and one of the nuts named after a potential suitor blazed together, then love was assured and marriage inevitable.

Slices of Irish tea brack

 

A Slice Of Brack To Tell Your Fortune:

 

Traditional Irish Halloween celebrations involve serving an Irish cake called brack.  This tradition continues to this day.

These raisin breads are baked with hidden treasures in the dough, usually a coin, a piece of cloth, a key, a ring, a thimble or a button.

  • Lucky Halloween revelers who discover the coin can look forward to a year of prosperity.
  • But I’m afraid your finances look bleak if you find the old piece of cloth.
  • Of course, the ring foretells an impending marriage, or a new romance.
  • But if you find the thimble you’ll be an old maid.
  • A button foretells a year of bachelorhood for a male barmbrack eater.
  • And a key tells the story of an imminent journey.

 

Bowl of porridgeImage Credit

A Bowl of Porridge:

 

Now if you don’t have time to be baking fancy barmbracks with rings and things inside, do not fear. A simple bowl of porridge will do the trick.

Fuarag (pronounced foo-ur-ag) is a traditional dish of oatmeal mixed with cream. If you’re eager to learn if new love is just around the corner for you or one of your friends, just make a big pot of porridge.

Add some cream, a ring and a coin. Dish out the porridge to all those seeking to know if their future holds marriage or wealth. The lucky finder of the ring will be married within the year, while wealth awaits whoever recovers the coin.

And hold your breath if your bowl of creamy gruel reveals both the ring and the coin – a wealthy spouse may soon cross your path.

Remember to eat with caution on Halloween night – all these bits and pieces in traditional foods are a major choking hazard.

Colcannon with melting butter.

Colcannon:

 

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish served at Halloween. It’s a mix of kale and mashed potatoes, served with melted butter, and once again this simple dish holds the powers of divination.

In the past, unmarried women would take their first and last spoonful of colcannon and put it inside a stocking. These colcannon stockings were hung from the frame of the front door. The first man to enter the house and pass beneath the fortune telling stocking would become their husband.

 

Halloween – A Time For Romance:

 

And there you have it – my romantic guide to Halloween festivities. If you know of any more prophetic Halloween traditions concerning love and marriage, please feel free to add your two cents worth in the comment section below.  I look forward to hearing new superstitions from all over the world.

Wishing you all happy love matches this Halloween.

 

Samhain Shona Daoibh

Happy Halloween

 

Irish American Mom

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Previously Featured On Irish American Mom

https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2013/05/24/foggy-ben-bulben
https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2014/07/19/irish-fireside-a-wonderful-website-for-planning-a-trip-to-ireland
https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2014/10/10/the-irish-american-influence-guest-post-by-brighid-osullivan/
https://www.irishamericanmom.com/2016/02/21/the-irish-flag/

Many Thanks to the Irish Blog Awards – Irish American Mom Won the Silver Award in the 2018 Diaspora Category

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