NeuKelte on Nostr: #Celtic #FairyTaleTuesday: „John Millington Synge and Jack B. Yeats observed a ...
#Celtic #FairyTaleTuesday: „John Millington Synge and Jack B. Yeats observed a Bonfire Night celebration in Mayo in 1905.
“...the impression one gets of the whole life is not a gloomy one. Last night was St. John's Eve, and bonfires - a relic of Druidical rites - were lighted all over the country, the largest of all being in the town square of Belmullet, where a crowd of small boys shrieked and cheered and threw up firebrands for hours together.”
The day and night were even celebrated in the cities, where colourful parades marched through the streets wrapped in sashes and ribbons and strewing flowers before them as they danced to lively music. Tradesmen would carry long poles with the sign of their trade on top, and a couple of them wore masks to match!
These were called the Merrymen, and they would perform tricks and tumble wildly for the amusement of the crowds.
A great pole as tall as the mast of a sailing ship was erected in the town square and a basket of cakes and garters would be attached to the top. The best dancers would compete at the foot of the pole and the winners would be awarded the basket of cakes for the women and the garters for the men!“
Source: Midsummer Bonfire Night | Folk and Fairy Tales from the Emerald Isle
“...the impression one gets of the whole life is not a gloomy one. Last night was St. John's Eve, and bonfires - a relic of Druidical rites - were lighted all over the country, the largest of all being in the town square of Belmullet, where a crowd of small boys shrieked and cheered and threw up firebrands for hours together.”
The day and night were even celebrated in the cities, where colourful parades marched through the streets wrapped in sashes and ribbons and strewing flowers before them as they danced to lively music. Tradesmen would carry long poles with the sign of their trade on top, and a couple of them wore masks to match!
These were called the Merrymen, and they would perform tricks and tumble wildly for the amusement of the crowds.
A great pole as tall as the mast of a sailing ship was erected in the town square and a basket of cakes and garters would be attached to the top. The best dancers would compete at the foot of the pole and the winners would be awarded the basket of cakes for the women and the garters for the men!“
Source: Midsummer Bonfire Night | Folk and Fairy Tales from the Emerald Isle