Plenty of people are out and about today celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Though no leprechauns were spotted, nor breaking news stories about the poor turned rich after finding a lucky pot of gold, there is a tale or two of Irish folklore and ancient water tales.
Celtic oral tradition and old Irish superstitions make several references to water. According to superstition, after a dead person is buried in the cemetery, he or she keeps watch until the next corpse enters the graveyard.
While the corpse is waiting, he or she must fetch water and bring it to those stuck in Purgatory, a place that was believed to host the dead until they were ready to enter heaven. Purgatory was thought to be a place of judgment, fiery and uncomfortable.
The corpse would have to make several trips to ensure that the dead in Purgatory had enough water. The need for water, even in most unholy circumstances, was important to the Irish.
The Irish also conceived of water as a mean of protection against evil spirits. If one was trying to escape the clutches of a ghost or evil spirit, swimming across a stream of running water would keep the spirit away.
Water had the power to keep ghosts and evil spirits away, but the appearance of a water wagtail at one’s house meant bad news. The meaning and use of water across cultures reveals fascinating differences and similarities between groups of people from around the world.
Populations of people may vary in physical appearance, custom, and identity, but there is one fundamental similarity amongst groups. Cultural traditions, both past and present, assign unique qualities to water. Some of these qualities are mystical in nature, others are less so.
But ancient Irish folklore saw water in several ways. Firstly, water was seen as a duty, a means of taking care of those who couldn’t care for themselves. Secondly, water was seen as a means of protection from the supernatural. Finally, a water wagtail brought bad luck!
Either way, Erin-g0-bragh! And Happy St. Patrick’s Day from WaterWideWeb!
If you enjoyed this article, you should also read:
Will Your Beer Be Here in 20 Years?
Celebrities Raise Awareness About H20 Issues in Liberia
