Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-25
IRELAND'S FOLK LORE
REVERENCE FOR ANIMALS MENTION
ED IN THE SCRIPTURES.


Popular Superstitions Connected with
Christmas-Wicked Work of the ''Dara
Dael"-Licking a Lizard-Curious Gus
LONESOME Signs Of Ill Fortune.
In Ireland, as in every country OF Eu-
rope, many curious ideas about almost
everything that is seen or heard in ordi-
nary life have been handed down from
parent to child. Beasts, birds and in
sects are regarded with superstitious fear
or favor, and when any object has its
mention in Scripture the popular belief in
its good or evil influence is materially
strengthened.
The OK and the ass, as appearing fire.
quently in the Bible, are always highly
regarded, and, as it is the general belief
that our Saviour selected the ass to ride
upon on account of the cross on his back,
that animal is looked upon with signal es-
TEEN. 1t is considered lucky to have one
of his species in a field with cattle, as the
mark Of the cross is certain safeguard
against malicious witch or wanton fairy.
But this fortunate animal can do more
than ward eff evil spirits. He can tell
and every Christmas eve ne falls down at
midnight and brays three times in honor
of the approaching dawn. If this fact be
doubted there are always plenty Of wit
nesses who have kept awake to see the oc-
currence and who have seen it frequently.
The cock is regarded with similar rev.
erence on account of the scene between
Christ and ST. Peter, and is believed to be
as well aware of the Joy of Christmas
as the ass, and in consequence crows dur
ing good part of the nine nights proceed
ing the Christian festival. The Growing
of a hen, that at any other tine would be
a most unlucky omen, is then all right as
it is then supposed to share in the JOY Of
the cock at the coming of Christmas.
AFRAID OF A DARA DAEL.
The dubh dael, or dara dael, is black
insect of the earwig class; the meaning Of
the name in English is the black or other
devil. In creeping along, whenever it
hears any noise, it always halts, cocks up
its tail and protrudes its sting, which is
similar to that Of the bee No reptile has
been so much abhorred or dreaded by the
peasantry of Ireland as the dara dael, and
legends of its evil doings abound. Its
wicked work began at very early day.
apple thrown away by Eve, and to this
day strong smell of apples is perceived
when it is crushed, for it is always to be
crushed by a stone or lump of iron, which
must be hurled at the vermin, as other
wise the DEVILS essence would be con-
veyed through any medium of wood or
leather held in the destroyer's hand. Iron
and stones are deemed non-conductors.
hn yv-tG hnr md -ha,, how
throw the stones, generally eXclaim: "Ma
shocht paca agus ma paca morrio urth''-
i. e.. "My seven sins and my deadly sin
upon you" The allusion in the exclama-
ton is to another legend, which claims
that the dara dael acted as a spy upon
Christ and told his enemies where he
went. Judas, on his way to betray
Christ, is said to have met a number of
dara daels, who turned up their tails to
indicate the way the Saviour had gone.
The hzard-in Irish, aire luichair,
which literally translated means 1.-The pig
of the rushes''-is held in esteem for its
curative powers. When caught, the per-
son who is anxious to receive the curative
power takes the aire luichair in his hand,
ticks the creature all overhead feet,
belly, legs, sides and tail; and the tongue
of the person who thus ticks the aire lui-
chair is said ever afterward to possess the
power of taking the sting and pain out of
burn. There is also an idea that the
aire luichair, or newt, is always on the
watch to crawl down the throat OF any
person who happens to fall asleep out Of
doors.
CURIOUS CUSTOMS.
When passing over bridge of any size
trGlo tba oHrf, -inh1
his hat or utters some word Of blessing or
prayer for the builder of the bridge. 1t
is considered unfortunate on May morn
ing for a farmer or his wife to meet q
hare, as under such circumstances ''puss"
is said TO take the milk from the cows.
just at present, when eyictions are in
full swing, it may help to Illustrate the
popular sentiment by recalling the custom
of cursing known as 1.-The Fire of Stones"
The aggrieved person collects as many
small powders as will fill the principal
hearth of the holding he is compelled to
surrender. These he piles in the manner
of turf sods arranged for firing and then,
kneeling down, prays that until that heap
burns may every kind of sweat, bad luck
and misfortune attend the landlord and
his family TO untold generations. Rising,
he takes the stones in armfuls and hurls
them here and there, in loch, pool, bog
hole or stream, so that by no possibility
could the collection be recovered.
Certain trades and avocations are held |
in disrepute, but thinkers come in for more
than ordinary dislike. The reason al
legged is that when the blacksmith was
ordered to make nails for the cross he re-
fused, but the tinker made them, and /
therefore Christ condemned him and all /
his race TO be wanderers and never to have /
a roof of their own to cover them TO the /
worlds end.
1t is unlucky to take q cat with you !
when removing. In consequence of this |
belief cats often suffer terribly. 1t is I'M
lucky TO meet a barking dog or bare
footed woman early in the morning. If, |
IN addition, the woman should be red /
headed, you must turn back in haste, lest .
some evil thing come upon you. 1t is /,
lucky for dog to come into the house the !
first thing in the morning.
A girl chasing butterfly was scolded
oy her companions saying: THAT may
be the soul of your grandfather" Upon
inquiry it was found that butterfly how
ering near corpse was sign of its ever
lasting hsppiness.-Chicago News.
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