On the first of May, summer officially began in Ireland. And in centuries-old fashion, it's also the time that many people gathered their painted eggs shells, ribbons and bunches of flowers and decorate their May Bush.
To celebrate Michael Fortune of Folklore.ie is here to show everyone how to decorate the May Bush. The video from the Design & Crafts Council Ireland shows how you can make special decorations using eggs.
For those who don't know, the May Bush is a piece of a whitethorn or gorse/furze bush which is erected on the first of May or May Eve and decorated with painted eggshells, ribbons and seasonal flowers.
Traditionally, these May Bushes were erected in a prominent place in a bid to keep the 'pisheogs' away (ie the fairies), and like so many of our customs the May Bush was centred on the protection of the growing crops and the milk yield.
You can read more here in this article HERE!
In the past in Wexford, where Micahael and his family are from, small candles were also placed on the May Bush and in some cases these May Bushes were burnt that very night. Bonfires are still lit today locally and in other parts of the country too to mark the day.
You can read more about other Bealtaine traditions from RTÉ Brainstorm too - Click HERE!
These fires are a continuation of the ancient Bealtaine fire tradition that stretches back in time and gives the month of May its Irish name, Bealtaine, meaning bright light or bright fire.
Have fun making your own May Bush!
