The idols of Boa Island

 

                                           Boa is at the lower end of Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh. Here
                                           in the ancient Caldragh cemetery are two pre-Christian stone
                                           figures - the Janus statue and a smaller statue, the Lusty Man.
                                           Shown is the more famous of the two - a double-sided figure of
                                           two beings carved back-to-back. Interestingly, this type of figure is
                                           often referred to when the calendar year has just turned and we are
                                           glancing back even as we move forward. Also, the month of January
                                           is named after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates. Often
                                           flowers and coins are left at the base of both statues - perhaps for
                                           good luck in the new year? Speculation as to what the idols
                                           represent continues.

 

                    

                   

 

                  An Irish Blessing

                   May you be blessed with
                  warmth in your home,
                 love in your heart,
                peace in your soul
                 and joy in your life.

 

Irish New Year Traditions

 

In Ireland the girls would go to bed with sprigs of mistletoe, or holly and ivy leaves under their pillows so they would go to bed dreaming of their future husbands.

 

In Ireland in the west the direction of the wind blowing at New Year would indicate the trend of politics in the coming year. If it blew from the west it would flourish, if from the east the English would have upper hand.

 

Also on New Year's Eve if they ate a very large supper they would have plenty of food for the coming year.

 

One custom that was practiced on New Year's Eve was to take a large loaf of
Christmas bread or cake outside the house and hammer it against the closed doors and windows, this was done so as to drive out any misfortune and let happiness in.

 

     Druids gave a gift of twigs from the mistletoe, as this was a plant that was sacred to
     them as a magic source of fertility. It would bestow on the recipient a fruitful year in
     the number of children, as well as the amount of cattle and the amount of crop.