The Old Cows Days/The Days of the Brindled Cow facts for kids

The Old Cows Days or Days of the Brindled Cow are special days in the Irish Calendar. They include the last days of March and the first three days of April. In the Irish language, these days are called Laethanta na Bó Riabhaí.

What Are the Old Cows Days?

These days get their name from an old folk tale. This story helps explain why the weather in Ireland can be so unpredictable around this time of year.

The Story of the Brindled Cow

The folk tale tells of a cow known as the bó riabhach, which means "the brindled cow." A brindled cow has a coat with streaks of different colors, like brown and gray.

At the start of April, this brindled cow complained to her friends in the herd. She grumbled about how cold and harsh the month of March had been. March, who was listening, became annoyed by the cow's constant complaining.

March decided to teach the cow a lesson. So, March "borrowed" the first three days from April. March then made these days extremely cold and miserable. The weather was so bad that the poor brindled cow sadly died before these extra cold days were over.

What Does the Story Teach Us?

The main lesson from the "Days of the Brindled Cow" is a warning. It suggests that complaining about bad weather can be risky. It reminds people to be careful what they wish for, or what they complain about!

Where Else Is This Story Told?

You can find different versions of this same story all over Ireland. Similar tales are also told in other parts of Europe. This shows how common it is for people to tell stories about the changing weather.

The Brindled Cow Breed

The bó riabhach mentioned in the story refers to a type of cow. This was once a very common native Irish cow breed. However, these days, this specific breed is quite rare to see.