Irish Birthday EggTradition

by Caoimhe
(Co. Mayo, Ireland)

For as long as I can remember every birthday my granddad would give me birthday bumps, where he lifted me upside down and tapped my head on the floor and added an extra one for good luck.

As I got older my friends would "egg" me on my birthday to bring good health. Some would even throw flour at me for riches.

I remember the first time I got egged. I had seen my older cousins get egged but I never had. I was 8 years old and my family and friends had come over to wish me happy birthday.

There were balloons and mams homemade cake. After everyone had sung "Happy Birthday," I was waiting for my birthday bumps. Instead, I got an egg thrown at me (to my delight). My mam produced a whole bowl of eggs and everyone grabbed an egg and threw it at me. Then we started to throw flour at each other.

Everyone I know here in Ireland gets egged, usually after school as they are leaving we will all run up and egg them. Since my 8th birthday I have been egged 9 times, one for each birthday.