Bridging Appalachia

Excerpt from the School’s Collection from the National Folklore Collection 1937-1938

St Brigid’s Night NFCS 0126: 469-470

Corrower, County Mayo

“In this part of the country the people have several customs that they practise on the thirty-first of January – “Brighideóg Night.” They greatest custom of all is the practice of going out as “Brighideógs.”
In preparation for going out as “Brighideógs”, the children or any one else who is going, disguise themselves, so that no one can know them. They dress in old clothes of their parents, or in their own old clothes turned inside out. They mask their faces with pieces of cloth or curtains. Some-times they make straw or rush hats to keep the veils on. When they have themselves well disguised, they get an old “colpán” and “Miss Biddy” and set out on their journeys. “Miss Biddy” is a doll that is made from old rags or an old turnip, carved, and painted with soot.
When everything is ready, the “Brighideógs” set off, children from eight to thirteen in groups of two and three, and the others _ from fourteen to about thirty years of age in big crowds ruled by a captain. The children dance and play French Fiddles and get a penny or a sweet each. When the big people come in, they play a flute, or a fiddle or a melodeon. They spend about a quarter of an hour in each house. Sometimes they fight and steal cakes, but if they steal anything they return it the next day. The children stay out until about ten o’clock but the bigger ones remain out until about twelve.
The children spend the money they get in buying sweets, and sometimes in buying books and pencils in school. the men spend the money they get in buying cigarettes or tobacco.”

Collector: Rita Cunney
Informants: Mr & Mrs Cunny