Wicklow-
William & Mary Ann Hanbridge;
‘It was unlucky to give the stalled cattle food between Old Christmas Day and New Christmas Day, so the mangers in the sheds were made large enough to take the full supply of food for the twelve days. The mangers in some farms are still very large, but the superstition which began with the change in the Calendar* has died out.’
Memories of West Wicklow 1813 – 1939.
* The Georgian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar in 1752, ten day were taken off the length of the year.
thefadingyear 