Halloween Costume Party Ideas:
Traditional
Halloween Decorations
Traditional Irish Crafts:
Halloween Cross
Source: Kevin Danaher, The Year in Ireland
 The Parshell is an important Irish craft, which
originates from the Isle of Man. It is the cross
which keeps the evil spirits away from your door on
Halloween and for the rest of the year. It also
keeps the barn animals safe the year round. While
you want to welcome the good spirits that walk the
earth at Halloween, you want to be sure to guard
against the bad spirits or the spirits of your
enemies! So get a Parshell made and on your door
right away!
Costume Party Ideas: Costumes, Mask, Decorations
Here’s Howl: On Halloween Night: Make your Parshell
and place it over the front doorway - on the inside.
The power to ward off ill-luck, sickness,
witchcraft, and evil spirits only lasts one year.
When you take the old one down you must take care to
shout: “Fonstarenheehy!”
Tip:
Take the old one out and put it in the barn or
garage over the car as its power is still good to
help the animals and perhaps even protect the car in
the new year.
Materials:
1.
Two sticks- 1-2 feet long, about 1/2 inch diameter
at most.
2.
Tape or string to tie the sticks together.
3.
Wheaten straw, similar plant material or paper twist
(try using green, purple, and tan colored twist).
Instructions:
1.
Fasten the two sticks together securely at right
angles to form a cross. (use tape or string)
2.
If using twist -untwist it and flatten it out but
not too flat-it should resemble corn stalk/husk.
3.
Attach twist or stalks to underside of one of the
sticks or if using straw: wedge it under one and
over the other stick starting in the center.
4.
Moving clockwise weave the twist or straw over one
stick and under the next going around the cross.
Stop before you get to the ends of the sticks- a few
inches of stick should be exposed.
5.
If using twist , use two or three colors
attaching one to the next as you go.
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