MAY EVE FOLKLORE
On May Eve (30th April), people traditionally collected bunches of yellow flowers before sunset. These were placed on the door thresholds and windowsills to protect against the sídhe (fairies) who were said to be more active on May eve and May Day. It would also protect against other nefarious forces such as witches who would employ different forms of sympathetic magic and spells to steal your butter profit.
They could do this by using a súgán (straw) or horse hair rope to gather the morning dew while saying spells such as "come all to me, come all to me". They could also steal it by dipping a spancel into your milk or by opening all the outhouse doors on your farm. Another method employed was to take any item from a persons house (giving anything out of the house was forbidden before noon). Even the smoke from your chimney could be used against you if they used the spell "Ím an detaigh sin ar mo chuid bhainne-se" (The butter of that smoke on my milk).
So don't forget to get out this evening and collect your flowers! This tradition has been making a very strong comeback in the past few years, so why not give it a try yourself! Feel free to share,
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