The Folk-lore of the Isle of Man: Being an Account of Its Myths, Legends, Superstitions, Customs, & Proverbs, Collected from Many Sources; with a General Introduction; and with Explanatory Notes to Each Chapter

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Brown, 1891 - Celts - 192 pages

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Page 133 - On the 24th of December, towards evening, all the servants in general have a holiday ; they go not to bed all night, but ramble about till the bells ring in all the churches, which is at twelve o'clock ; prayers being over, they go to hunt the wren, and after having found one of these poor birds, they kill her, and lay her on a bier with the utmost solemnity, bringing her to the parish church, and burying her with a whimsical kind of solemnity, singing dirges over her in the Manx language, which...
Page 191 - That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them ; We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Page 105 - Paul's Day be fair and clear, It does betide a happy year; But if it chance to snow or rain, Then will be dear all kinds of grain: If clouds, or mists, do dark the...
Page 106 - The mistress and servants of each family take a sheaf of oats and dress it up in women's apparel, put it in a large basket, and lay a wooden club by it, and this they call a Briid's Bed ; and then the mistress and servants cry three times, " Briid is come, Briid is welcome.
Page 101 - I have commanded you, and lo ! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.
Page 161 - Sight is an impression made either by the mind upon the eye, or by the eye upon the mind, by which things distant or future are perceived, and seen as if they were present.
Page 168 - By this book and by the holy contents thereof, and by the wonderful works that God hath miraculously wrought in heaven above and in...
Page 101 - In the Name of GOD the FATHER, and of GOD the SON...
Page 53 - The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
Page 112 - ... of the tongs and cleavers. Both companies march till they meet on a common, and then their trains engage in a mock battle. If the Queen of Winter's forces get the better so far as to take the Queen of May prisoner, she is ransomed for as much as pays the expences of the day.

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