from the Celtic Folk Customs book....
Ascension Day, fortieth day after Easter, Thursday before Whit Sunday
CELTIC. The Roman flower festival 'Fontinalia' honouring the spirits of
streams and fountains took place now, and the association of Ascension
Day with giving thanks for the gift of water may come from the Church's
efforts to eradicate water- and well-worship. Wells were rededicated to
saints. The tradition of thanksgiving for pure well water dates back to
the Black Death when villages were spared because of their pure water.
Some preambulations and blessings also occurred today.
Children used to mix well water with sugar or liquorice before drinking
it. Water from healing wells was thought to be especially potent today.
There was a general fear of mishap and accident today, and clothes were
never washed lest someone dies as the clothes are drying.
WALES. Miners at Penryn quarries, near Bangor, Gwyneed, took this day
as a holiday because they feared accident if they worked. Generally, no
work was done in fields and gardens today lest the crops grow weak and
harvests turned out poor.
--
Pat Connors, Sacramento CA
http://www.connorsgenealogy.com
Professional Genealogy Research
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