may-bush

mayIn Irish folk-tradition May 1st and November 1st marked the completion of sowing and reaping and were quarter days in the Celtic year. Of the numerous folk customs associated with May-Day, only the planting of the _May-bush_ (Avalon and Miramichi), the gather- ing of May-flowers (Miramichi), and the blessing of cattle and children (Peterborough) have been recorded. The May-bush, gaily bedecked with multi- coloured ribbons, was placed beside or on top of the garden fence on May 1st and remained there for the month. This custom was practised until very recently in the Avalon, but disappeared at the turn of the century in Miramichi. It was a/ p.117 - folk custom of regional significance in Ireland, confined largely to the southeast, the source of the Newfoundland-Irish immigration. Although parallels existed in Britain and other parts of Europe, it is undoubtedly of Irish provenance in the Avalon. Both in Miramichi and the Avalon the (over) [see 'May Pole', 'May Tree"] [Reverse] ... May-bush was connected with the cult of the Virgin Mary...PRINTED ITEM DNE-citG. M. Story JUL 1974 JH JUL 1974Used IUsed INot usedCard is marked as being used in the DNE I but source and contents do not appear under 'may'. Reverse of this card at M_1358