Churning

The churn we have at home is a barrel one. There are many different parts in it. Inside is the (ham) dash and outside is the handle and the lid. The parts for the butter are the butter cup, the butter dish and two clappers. Long ago the people had a lot of strange customs when they would be making a churning. They had a superstition that when they would be making a churning they would put a small coal under the churn in case that anyone would bring the butter. They had another superstition to shake a grain of salt on the churn before they would put the milk in to  the churn in case anyone would come in and bring the butter with them. They had another superstition that if a man would come in to light his pipe while they would be making a churning they would not let him out until the churning would be made.

Collector: Kathleen Donelan

Informant: Michael Blake, Liskeevy, Co. Galway

Place: Kilgeverin

Footnote: Duchas, http://www.duchas.ie