Irish, English and Scottish cultures still celebrated in Portage

Posted By Angela Brown, Central Plains Herald-Leader

Updated 15 days ago

Angela Brown / Central Plains Herald-Leader.... Mary Balezs, originally from Ireland, is pictured at her home just outside of Portage la Prairie on Nov. 3, while holding the St. Brigid's Cross, and, as always, a strong cup of tea.

Editor's note: Over the past several weeks, the Central Plains Herald-Leader has hosted a festival of cultures that are represented in this region. This week's stop is Ireland, England and Scotland.

Portage la Prairie is a home to many seekers from around the world who settled here, including three nationalities hailing from across the Atlantic Ocean: the Irish, the English and the Scots.

Mary Balez was born in Donegal, Ireland, and came to Canada in 1967 with plans to only stay a year, but ended up staying here for good.

But while she has been away from her homeland for many years now, she still appreciates the beautiful traditions of Ireland, and has fond memories of her time there as a youth.

Balez recalls growing up in the 1960s and looking forward to a visit by the Mummers, a group of minstrels who travelled from town to town stopping at people's homes where they would perform a play, with the hope of receiving a small denomination of money or a bite to eat.

"You might give them a couple of shillings, food or a drink," said Balez. "Some would bring a tin flute or banjo, and sing or dance and perform."

The Mummers would usually make their rounds around the time of All Souls Day. They wore costumes and masks and may have either told a story or sung a song.

"We always looked forward to the Mummers coming," said Balez.

One popular tradition Balez brought to Manitoba from her homeland was the innate knowledge of how to make a good cup of tea.

First the kettle has to be boiling properly, then the hot water is poured into a warmed tea pot with loose tea and steeped for five minutes. After that, the tea is strained so it is ready to drink.

Balez also recommended saving mugs for other beverages, as a fine cup of tea must be sipped with civility out of a fine china tea cup.  

"You would never drink tea out of a mug," she stressed.

With her thoughts turning to Christmas now, Balez recalls how creating a festive atmosphere around the dinner table was of utmost importance to an Irish family.

She was one of 13 children and there was always time for each to take his or her turn in the celebration.

Balez commented after a meal the family would perform, by either singing, or reading a poem or some prose. And it didn't matter who could sing and who couldn't.

"You were expected to," she said. "You got accolades. It was a good feeling, and it took away from your self-consciousness. Everyone acknowledged you, and you had to get your performance ready."

At her home, just east of Portage, Balez still keeps some of her traditions alive. Above her doorway is a St. Brigid's Cross, to remind her that the Irish traditions will live on.

"It shows the Irish spirit," she said. "We kept our language, we kept our religion, and we kept our culture."

Dave Quinn, who originally hails from Southampton, England, said initially he had to get used to not having some of the delicious foods he was accustomed to growing up, when he came to Canada in 1966.

Living in England when he was a youth, Quinn recalled having milk and fresh bread delivered right to the doorstep. And the bread was homemade, crunchy and crispy.

He said because there was no refrigeration for many homes in England, families would shop every day to always have fresh food.

Quinn remarked Cadbury's chocolate, his favourite, did not have all the preservatives found in many other chocolates, so it was always a treat. He also would enjoy some of the English desserts, like treacle pudding.

"The only thing I missed was family and friends, and the chocolate," he added. "The food was a big difference over here."

For Isabel Graham, who came to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1962, it was a big adjustment getting used to her new life here.

She said some of the traditions she remembers fondly while growing up in Scotland were the New Year's celebrations.

Families would stand on their doorsteps and bang their pots and pans at the stroke of midnight to welcome in the New Year.

There was also a longstanding tradition that the first person who entered someone's home after midnight should have dark hair and a piece of coal for the fire. That would be a favourable omen that the hearth would stay warm through the year to come.

"It was for good luck to keep the home fire burning," Graham said.

She added while in Canada, country tunes were more popular when she arrived, but she longed for the reels and Scottish dance music she would hear growing up.

Today, she still listens to some of her favourite musicians: Jimmy Shand and Kenneth McKellar, in her Portage home.

But there is one sound that always brings a tear to her eye wherever she goes. That's the rhythmic moaning of the bagpipes, getting ready to play a tune.

"Absolutely, that still stirs the blood," said Graham.

abrown@cpheraldleader.com