On "Covering" the Fire for the Night [114]
Let us preserve this fire, as Christ preserves all,
Christ at the top of this house and Brigit in the midst;
The twelve apostles of greatest power in the heavens
Guarding and preserving this house till day.
FOOTNOTES:
[114] It is the custom in the West of Ireland and in the Hebrides to place a piece of peat on the fire before going to bed, to preserve the "seed" of the fire till morning; this act is accompanied with the recital of some fragment of prayer or verse. There are many of these "covering" or "sparing" ranns in existence.