Irish Folklore
Superstitions (Pisreoga)
The Evil Eye
If you gave someone a compliment you had to follow the compliment by saying "God bless him/her" or "Bail ó Dhia air/uirthi". This was for fear of the evil eye.
If you gave someone a compliment you had to follow the compliment by saying "God bless him/her" or "Bail ó Dhia air/uirthi". This was for fear of the evil eye.
Churning Butter
If you happened to be churning butter and someone came to visit they would have to help churn the butter. Otherwise the butter would turn bad.
If you happened to be churning butter and someone came to visit they would have to help churn the butter. Otherwise the butter would turn bad.
Itchy Nose
If you got an itch nose you were going to have a fight with someone.
If you got an itch nose you were going to have a fight with someone.
Warm ears
If your right ear was warm you were being praised. If your left ear was warm someone was saying something bad about you.
If your right ear was warm you were being praised. If your left ear was warm someone was saying something bad about you.
An Itchy Palm
An itchy palm meant you were going to get a gift of money.
An itchy palm meant you were going to get a gift of money.
Changelings
Changelings were supposed to be fairy children who had been swopped for a human child. To protect the child iron was put in the cot. Boys were also dressed up as girls. In order to get the human baby back a changeling child had to be put on the fire.
Changelings were supposed to be fairy children who had been swopped for a human child. To protect the child iron was put in the cot. Boys were also dressed up as girls. In order to get the human baby back a changeling child had to be put on the fire.
Babies
Babies born at midnight were supposed to be able to see ghosts and fairies. In some places it was thought that this baby would also be very intelligent. Babies born with the caul (caipín an tsonais) on their heads were supposed to have very good luck. The caul was supposed to protect them from drowning.
Babies born at midnight were supposed to be able to see ghosts and fairies. In some places it was thought that this baby would also be very intelligent. Babies born with the caul (caipín an tsonais) on their heads were supposed to have very good luck. The caul was supposed to protect them from drowning.
Hares
The Hungry Grass (Féar Gortach)
Supposedly if you stepped on this you would collapse with the hunger. You had to eat something immediately or you were likely to die. Some people used to carry bread just in case they stepped on the hungry grass. If they didn't have any food with them they had to get to the nearest house and the owners had died of hunger there during the famine.
Supposedly if you stepped on this you would collapse with the hunger. You had to eat something immediately or you were likely to die. Some people used to carry bread just in case they stepped on the hungry grass. If they didn't have any food with them they had to get to the nearest house and the owners had died of hunger there during the famine.
Fairy Forts
Fairy forts would never be touched for fear of annoying the fairies.
Fairy forts would never be touched for fear of annoying the fairies.
Fairies/The Good People (Sí/Na Daoine Maithe)
The Leipreachán
A leipreachán is looks like a little man. He wears a coat and hat. He is a mischievous creature. He is a cobbler. He makes and mends shoes. He sits on a three legged school while doing this. He is very clever and cunning.
A leipreachán is looks like a little man. He wears a coat and hat. He is a mischievous creature. He is a cobbler. He makes and mends shoes. He sits on a three legged school while doing this. He is very clever and cunning.
Bean Sí
When someone was about to die the bean sí would be heard wailing. The person who heard the wailing wouldn't die but it would be relative of theirs who was going to die. The bean sí foretold of deaths within families that had Ó/Mac in their surname.
When someone was about to die the bean sí would be heard wailing. The person who heard the wailing wouldn't die but it would be relative of theirs who was going to die. The bean sí foretold of deaths within families that had Ó/Mac in their surname.