Bridging Appalachia

Excerpts from dúchas.ie from the National Folklore Collection

“In this country Shrove Tuesday is commonly known as Pancake Night. The reason for this is that on account of the black fast on Ash Wednesday long ago pancakes were made in every house on Shrove Tuesday night. When the bean a ‘tighe was making the pancakes she put a ring a threepenny bit and a button in them. Whoever got the ring was supposed to be married within a year. The person that got the threepenny but would be very rich and whoever got the button would never be married at all.”

NFC S 905:312

“In olden times Shrove was the time (mo) for marriages. The Tuesday in this period is called “Spotting Tuesday”, on this day the young men go the fairs and markets to “spot” their future wives. The last Tuesday in Shrove is called “Salting Tuesday”, on this day the men go around and throw salt on the young girls, that are not married, so as to keep them fresh until the next Shrove.”

NFC S 28:125

“A Lizard is found in a bog. He is a small animal with four small feet and a tail. Long ago, it was believed if a man had courage to lick the lizard all over with his tongue he would have a cure for a burn on his tongue.”

This cure is particularly potent when obtained on Shrove Tuesday.

NFC S 40:251