*Ø* Blogmanac March 18 | Sheelah's Day, Ireland
Dedicated to Sheelah-Na-Gig, Goddess of Fertility
The day following St Patrick's is Sheelah's day. Some say she was Patrick's wife (but the Catholic Church would surely not allow this), some say his mother.
Traditionally, shamrocks are again displayed, although last night the shamrock was 'drowned' in the last drink. At the turn of the 20th century, one sarcastic observer wrote that the holiday's adherents "are not so anxious to determine who 'Sheelah' was, as they are earnest in her celebration". He tells us that revellers would take the shamrock they had been wearing since St Patrick's day, the day before, plop it in the drink, and drown it in the last glass, at the end of the night's drinking.
Sheelah is an old Irish term for a slovenly or muddling woman, particularly an old one. In Australia, with its very Irish background, the term 'sheila' is still common (though culturally self-conscious, ie, rarely used these days except jocularly and somewhat mockingly of old Aussie manners) slang for 'woman'. Perhaps the day after St Patrick?s obtained the name without any reference to the calendar of saints.
'Sheelahs' or 'Sheela-na-gigs' are gargoyles on ancient Christian churches in Ireland and throughout the British Isles. Stone carvings of one persona of the Goddess, they show a woman, often with her legs open and exposing her vagina.
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On this day in 1910, American escapologist Harry Houdini flew a heavier-than-air machine at Digger's Rest. This was probably the first such flight in Australia.
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
Dedicated to Sheelah-Na-Gig, Goddess of Fertility
The day following St Patrick's is Sheelah's day. Some say she was Patrick's wife (but the Catholic Church would surely not allow this), some say his mother.
Traditionally, shamrocks are again displayed, although last night the shamrock was 'drowned' in the last drink. At the turn of the 20th century, one sarcastic observer wrote that the holiday's adherents "are not so anxious to determine who 'Sheelah' was, as they are earnest in her celebration". He tells us that revellers would take the shamrock they had been wearing since St Patrick's day, the day before, plop it in the drink, and drown it in the last glass, at the end of the night's drinking.
Sheelah is an old Irish term for a slovenly or muddling woman, particularly an old one. In Australia, with its very Irish background, the term 'sheila' is still common (though culturally self-conscious, ie, rarely used these days except jocularly and somewhat mockingly of old Aussie manners) slang for 'woman'. Perhaps the day after St Patrick?s obtained the name without any reference to the calendar of saints.
'Sheelahs' or 'Sheela-na-gigs' are gargoyles on ancient Christian churches in Ireland and throughout the British Isles. Stone carvings of one persona of the Goddess, they show a woman, often with her legs open and exposing her vagina.
On this day in 1910, American escapologist Harry Houdini flew a heavier-than-air machine at Digger's Rest. This was probably the first such flight in Australia.
This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date when you're there.
Pip Wilson posted item above at 10:36 PM | Permalink
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