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On the death of a virgin in Ireland
On the death of a virgin in Ireland, a young woman goes before the coffin with a garland of sweet herbs on her head and two black ribbons hang down the back for our mortal state, two white ribbons for purity and innocence. The ends of the ribbons are held by four maids. Between the leading maid and the ribbon-holders, two more maids proceed with a basket of herbs and flowers, and strew them in the path of the coffin to the burial place.
