Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/220

212 Parish of Maghera.

As to customs, we have no controversy here, about regaling ourselves with the juice of the barley on St. Patrick's day; eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday; a goose at Michaelmas, and nuts and apples on Hallow e'en; on the Sunday before Easter, palm twigs; on the 17th of March, a green shamrock 5 and on the 12th of July, orange-lilies arc worn. On Shrove Tuesday, and a few days before it, the Roman Catholics usually marry, being prohibited to do so in Lent or Advent.

On the 1st of May from time immemorial, until the year 1798, a large pole was planted in the market-place at Maghera; and a procession of May-boys, headed by a mock king and queen, paraded the neighbourhood, dressed in shirts over their clothes, and ornamented with ribbons of various colours. This practice was revived last year, and the May-boys collected about seventeen pounds at the different places where they called: this defrayed the expense of a public dinner next day.

On the 23rd of June bonfires are kindled in all directions through the country. On the 24th June, being St. John's day, the Freemasons assemble, walk in their insignia, and dine together. On the 12th July, the anniversary of the battle of Aughrim, the Orangemen assemble, walk in their insignia, and dine together. On the 29th September, being Michaelmas day, the few hounds in the neighbourhood are collected, and there is a hunt; and on the 31st of October, being Holy Eve, or, as the Scotch call it, "Hallow e'en," various tricks are played by the young people, who are anxious to know what husbands or wives they are to get.

Entertainments are given by all descriptions of people here at christenings, weddings, wakes, and funerals; cheese and ale are the usual beverage at the Scotch christenings, cakes and whiskey at the Irish. The weddings are observed with considerable gaiety, and a dangerous compliment is paid to the bridal-party, at what is called the infair or bringing home. They are saluted with shots from muskets and pistols in every village, or cluster of houses, through which they pass. This joke often turns out a serious one, for it has been repeatedly the cause of unhorsing some of the joyful train, who