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In Ireland, people dance in the streets on Easter
Sunday. The dancers compete for the prize of a cake.
In Ireland Easter is a very sacred time of fasting and
prayer. On Easter Saturday at church hundreds of small candles are lit
off the Paschal candle that has been blessed by the priest. On Easter
Sunday a quiet meal is eaten at home. Traditional Easter meal of leek
soup and roasted spring lamb.
Little Easter houses are built in some parts of
England as well. These are filled with coloured eggs. The eggs are
rolled down a hill in a competition before they are eaten.
Irish Easter Customs
- Clean house thoroughly Inside and out-whitewash
applied.
- Obtain New clothes.
- Good Friday-do no work on the land just in the
house.
- Fast More than is Required on Good Friday.
- Good Friday- Plant a small amount of crop seed to
bring blessing on it all.
- Shed no blood on Good Friday, work no wood, hammer
no nail .
- Maintain quiet on good Friday from Noon till
three P.M.
- Visit church-take off shoes-good Friday. Visit holy wells and graveyards.
- Do not fish with nets or lines on Good Friday no
fishing boat puts out to sea alternatively gather bia tragha-shore
food-seaweed and shellfish for the Main meal.
- Cut your hair on good Friday to prevent
headaches in the year to come-trim finger and toe nails.
- Water from the holy well will have curative
properties on Good Friday.
- A child born on Good Friday and baptized
on Easter Sunday had gift of healing. (if a boy he should go into the
ministry) die on good Friday go right the heaven.
- Eggs laid on Good Friday-Mark with cross
and each eat one on Easter Sunday. Eggs Hatching on that day will produce
healthy chicks.
Easter Saturday
- Have Holy water blessed.
- Drink three sips of holy water each for health. Sprinkle
on everything for good luck.
- Bring cinders from the Paschal fire to be
blessed.
Easter Sunday
- Butchers have mock funeral for a herring
symbolizing end to abstinence.-whip the herring, have a procession
involving the herring.
- Go to church and then herring procession.
- Go up at sunrise to view the sun dancing
with joy.
- View the reflection of the sun in a pail of
water and move it so the sun appears to dance.
- Do something with eggs. Give them, color them
- Have a Cludog or cluideog ritual-children
collect and cook eggs and other food in a structure which they make on
the edge of the farm-roasted eggs.
- Brightly dressed Tobies go from place to
place to demand the eggs of Easter Singing, dancing dressed in bright
colored rags.
- Keep shells of Easter eggs for the May
bush. 9.Roll eggs to race them.-may be Presbyterian custom.
- Have feast on Easter-Kill a cow if you
can-
- Take down the Spoilin meith na hlnide-little
piece of meat pinned up at lent and burn it giving house a rich smell
- Have a Cake Dance. Cake being the prize
for best dancer. Easter cake dance-a pruthog.
- Go to a "Sunday's" well-have a
bonfire.
Irish Pancake Recipe:
Basic Batter Ingredients:
100g flour Pinch salt
1 egg 150ml milk
Oil to fry
Method:
Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre of the
flour and beat in the egg using the back of a wooden spoon.
Slowly add the milk and beat in gradually to avoid lumps. Beat for a few
minutes to entrap air. Leave in the fridge to chill.
Heat a drop of oil on the frying pan, ensure the pan gets really hot.
Pour on a little batter to coat the base of the pan. Cook for approx. 2
minutes.
Toss the pancake and cook for about 1 minute or until golden brown.
The pancakes can be served with lemon, icing sugar, fruit or savoury
items.
Easter Dinner
The Easter Sunday dinner is similar to the Christmas
meal. It usually consists of a turkey or lamb, along with potatoes and vegetables.
Desert can be anything, but usually children stuff their faces with
their chocolate Easter eggs!
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