Thanks again to the Irish Heritage Newsletter. The Samhain Parshell The Parshell is an important Irish craft as it is the cross which keeps the evil spirits away from your door on Samhain (Halloween) and keeps the barn animals safe the year round. While you want to welcome the good spirits that walk the earth at Samhain you want to be sure to guard against the bad spirits or the spirits of you enemies! So get the Parshell made and on your door right away! 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 (I use 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 try to use two or three colors attaching one to the next as you go. Now you have your Parshell What do you do with it? On Oct. 31 make the Parshell and place it over the front doorway on the inside. The powers to ward off ill-luck sickness, and witchcraft and evil spirits only lasts one year. You can only make a new one on Oct.31. When you take the old one down you must take care to shout: Fonstarenheehy. 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. Once you get your Parshell up you can carve your turnip head! Source:Kevin Danaher, The Year in Ireland To view photo's of a completed Parshell go to http://www.bcpl.net/~hutmanpr/parshal.html <http://www.bcpl.net/%7Ehutmanpr/parshal.html> -- Pat Connors, currently visiting Sharon Springs, NY http://www.connorsgenealogy.com