are especially lucky. The period extends over the first sixteen days of May.
The Beltane bannock is smaller than that made at St. Michael's (see infra, p. 44), but is made in the same way; it is no longer made in Uist, but Father Allan remembers seeing his grandmother make one about twenty-five years ago. There was also a cheese made, generally on the 1st of May, which was kept to the next Beltane as a sort of charm against the bewitching of milk-produce. The Beltane customs seem to have been the same as elsewhere. Every fire was put out and a large one lit on the top of the hill, and the cattle driven round it sunwards (dessil), to to keep off murrain all the year. Each man would take home fire wherewith to kindle his own.
For some reason, not obvious, an old saying invites us to "Pity her who is the mother of silly children, when Beltane is on a Thursday."[1] In the same way, and with equal mystery, "When All Saints' Day is on a Wednesday there is lamentation among the children of men."
On All Souls' Day it is believed that "Holy Souls stretch out their hands for alms;" and it is a pious custom, universally practised to this day, for the people to give alms to their poorer neighbours.
"She who combs her curling tresses
On the night of Sunday-Monday
Did not on earth as much good
As would get mercy for her soul."
"What is done on Monday will be quickly or slowly undone" (hence an unlucky day to begin anything).
"It is on Monday the world will end."
- ↑ [This saying possibly contains a reference to human sacrifices at Beltane, when the "silly" children would naturally be the first to be chosen as victims. For human sacrifice among the Celts, see the Voyage of Bran, vol. ii., and cf. the descriptions of Beltane ceremonies in the Statistical Account of Scotland. It is possible, though there is absolutely no evidence of it, that Thursday was sacred to the Thunderer among the Celts, as well as among the Teutons, and that a Thursday Beltane would therefore be a day of special solemnity.—A. Nutt.]
