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St Martin's Day in Tipperary


It seems this saints day relates to another agricultural milestone, when the wheat seeding would be completed and winter preparations complete (for more info see there). There is some confusion whether the killing of the cock is done on St. Martin's Eve (10th Nov) or St. Martin's Day (11th Nov). Its not a feast day that I ever recall hearing of growing up but I have something in the back of my mind about perhaps a neighbour doing it that I will check out.

Here is some folklore from the Irish Folklore Commission about St. Martin's Day in Tipperary. There seems to be a good geographical spread (and I may have missed a few of them) so it must have been fairly widespread.

From Portroe

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922149/4856473/5011453

"St Martin's day is on the 11th November and the day before it is St Martin's Eve. On this Eve it is the custom to kill a fowl of some kind and to spill its blood behid the door in honour of St. Martin. The blood is spilt while flowing from the wound on the fowl's neck.
It was a custom in Ireland long ago that no wheels should be turning on St. Martin's day. Now that has died out but still on threshing is done.
If a pig or any animal were sick the owner of it would offer it to St Martin and then it was supposed to get better. But it would have to be killed and its blood offered to St Martin on the next 10th November. Some people when the animal is all right, kill it, and use its blood, but in almost every case when this is done the meat would go bad. It was also a custom that the people would make the sign of the cross on the foreheads of the family with the blood."

From Boher near Ballina

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922156/4856756

"On the 11th of November the Irish people keep the feast of St. Martin. They practise various customs on the 10th of November, the Eve of the feast. The following customs are practised in Boher :-
The killing of the Bird.
The people kill a cock or a duck or a goose on St. Martin's Eve. They cut the bird on the head and spill the blood at the threshold of the door and on the four corners of the kitchen floor in honour of St. Martin. Some people kill a pig in honour of St. Martin. I heard Mrs. Bray, Scragg telling a story of a family who lived in Portroe named Creamer. They promised a pig to St. Martin. On St. Martin's Eve they killed the pig. But they thought it a pity to spill the blood. Instead they filled puddings with it. Then they gave nothing to St. Martin and the pig went bad in the barrell.
On St. Martin's Day no mills used to work long ago. The mill-wheel would not turn because it is said St Martin was ground up in a mill.
The old people would never tackle a horse on St. Martin's Day for if they did they believed the horse would not work well any more. About six years ago my father worked a lately trained mare on that day. Grandfather remarked that he should not have done it. She brought one load of manure out of the yard but kicked at the second. We never had any satisfaction with her after that and we had to sell her."

From Ballydrehid

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922278/4866788/5022268

"In St. Martins day a hen was killed at the fire and as the blood was spilled around the kitchen in honour of St. Martin." 

From Killaneave

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922146/4856346/5016371

"Saint Martin's day is on the eleventh November. It is celebrated by killing a young duck or goose or a cock. The blood is spilled on the threshold of the door. People say it is unlucky if this is not done. My Mother always does and my Grandmother before her."

From Dundrum

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922309/4869022/5051620

"On St. Martin's day each year a chicken is killed and the blood is sprinkled around the kitchen in honour of St. Martin. On the 11th of November this feast day occurs. This act is said to prevent sickness for the year."

From Mullinahone

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922236/4863168/5053285

"There is a tradition that it is unlucky to work mills on St. Martin's Day because St. Martin was ground up in a mill.

Most people in this district used to kill a cock on St Martin's Day in former times. The cock was killed at the back door and was brought around the house, the blood being sprinkled on the four corners.

If blood of fowl were not spilled inside door on St. Martin's day people believed that all fowl would die."

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