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colcannon
DCHP-2 (Mar 2014)
Spelling variants:Colcannon, caulcannon, colecannon, caulcannon, kale cannon, kole cannon
1an. — Newfoundland, Food
mashed potatoes cooked usually with green cabbage or kale.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Colcannon is a borrowing from Irish Gaelic in Newfoundland English (Clarke 2010b: 109). The dish is traditionally served on October 31st, Halloween night (see the 1894 quotation), hence the term colcannon night (see meaning 1b). On that night, symbolic tokens such as thimbles or rings may be hidden in the dish.
See also COD-2, s.v. "colcannon" (2), marked as "Cdn (Nfld)".
Quotations
1875
The servant maids and boys were collected around a large kish or basket of potatoes on the middle of the floor, peeling them for the colcannon. The maids took care to hang the first peel on the key of the kitchen door, for whoever came in first then was sure to be their sweetheart.
1894
Colcannon Supper and Dance.
Dancing commencing at 8:45 p.m. Supper at 10. The Hall will be open on Friday and Saturday nights to finish lotteries and GIVE AWAY all goods remaining.
1903
Fresh meat of any kind was very scarce, and not at all procurable in the summer time. From the old people we learn the "Bublem's Squeak" (a compound of corn beef and vegetables), "Colcannon" (potatoes and cabbage), "Twice Laid" (salt fish mashed with potatoes, butter, salt, etc.), "Vang" (fat pork cut up into small squares and fried in batter), and "brose" or "brewis" were amongst the dishes in vogue.
1918
ENGLISH COLCANNON
Try this excellent food-saver, which will use up cold potatoes and cooked cabbage. Chop both together, season with salt and pepper, and a taste of onion.
Try this excellent food-saver, which will use up cold potatoes and cooked cabbage. Chop both together, season with salt and pepper, and a taste of onion.
1937
But that they lived comfortably and enjoyed good food can be seen from a list of some of the principal dishes of those far-off days. "Bubblem Squeak," a mixture of corn beef and vegetables, was probably a favourite dish, but "Colcannon," potatoes and cabbage, ran it a close second.
1956
In 1800 Colcannon was a mixture of potatoes and cabbage. Today Colcannon is served in Newfoundland at Hallowe'en parties or suppers and little prizes or favours are hidden in the mixture. It can be made from any vegetables though white ones are preferred.
1980
Watercress Soup OR Iced pineapple cubes, lime garnish Paddy's porkers Fresh applesauce Colcannon Carrots in cream Green salad OR Raw vegetable tray Grasshopper angel cake Irish coffee
1997
(Incidentally, champ is mashed potatoes with green onions and melted butter; boxty is a potato pancake; colcannon is mashed potatoes blended with some other vegetable; and spotted dog is a soda bread with raisins.)
1bn. — Colcannon Night, social customs
a nickname for Halloween.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — In Newfoundland, Colcannon Night, together with Snap-Apple Night, are the traditional names for Halloween, which was not a common name there (see the 1896 and 1942 quotations). Customs include the burying of symbolic items in a dish of colcannon (see meaning 1a), such as a ring, a coin, an old maid's thimble and a bachelor's button (Casselman 1998: 29) to convey messages predicting romance or otherwise.
Quotations
1896
1896 Dial Notes i, 378 Colcannon night: almost universal in St. John's, Nfld, for Hallowe'en. The name is used by those who eat colcannon on that night. Others speak of it as 'snap-apple night.' The term Hallowe'en is not generally used.
1942
Colcannon Night or Snap-Apple Night are still frequent synonyms for Halloween in many Newfoundland communities.
References
- DNE
- Casselman (1998)
- Clarke (2010b)