Sir, – May Day or Lá Bealtaine has been significant in Ireland since pagan times. In some countries it’s called Labour Day to campaign for fair pay and to advocate for workers’ rights. In 1994 then minister for enterprise Ruairí Quinn introduced a new public holiday on the first Monday in May, giving the workers of Ireland their first long weekend of the summer.
May Day is important in the Catholic Church, primarily because it marks the start of Marian month, a special month-long dedication to Mary, mother of God. Parishes often start the month with the May crowning, adorning a statue of Mary with a wreath of flowers to honour her as Queen of May.
In Irish mythology, it was essential to avoid bad luck on May Day lest it linger all summer. Many old superstitions, “piseogaí” in Irish, have survived and are connected to fairies and the female spirit, the Banshee. Some piseogs are so deeply ingrained that we follow them unwittingly. One of the best-known piseogs is contained in the magpie rhyme – one for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told, eight for a wish, nine for a kiss, 10 for a bird you must not miss, 11 for health, 12 for wealth, 13 beware it’s the devil himself. So, on May Day, wave away any lone magpie to stave off bad luck. – Yours, etc,
BILLY RYLE,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.