Ossian Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 1

SEASONS 197
THE FEAST-DAY OF MARY
them, and who did and will shield them from scatli till the day of death. While
singing thus, the family walk sunwise round the fire, the father leading, the mother
following, and the children following according to age.
After going round the fire, the man puts the embers of the fagot-fire, with bits
of old iron, into a pot, which he carries sunwise round the outside of his house, some-
times round his steadings and his fields, and his flocks gathered in for the purpose.
He is followed without as within by his household, all singing the praise of Mary
Mother the while.
The scene is striking and picturesque, the family being arrayed in their brightest
and singing their best.
Ox the feast-day of Mary the fragrant,
Mother of the Shepherd of the flocks,
I cut me a handful of the new corn,
I dried it gently in the sun,
I rubbed it sharply from the husk,
With mine own palms.
I ground it in a quern on Friday,
I baked it on a fan of sheep-skin,
I toasted it to a fire of rowan,
And I shared it round my people.
I went sun ways round my dwelling,
In name of the Mary Mother,
Who promised to preserve me.
Who did preserve me,
And who will preserve me,
In peace, in flocks,
In righteousness of heart,