Cap+O'Rushes

 
 * //Cap O'Rushes// **[[image:http://www.benhatke.com/art/dryad_web_07.jpg width="165" height="208" align="right" caption="Cap O' Rushes" link="http://www.benhatke.com/art/dryad_web_07.jpg"]]

The tale of //Cap O’ Rushes// was written by a man named Joseph Jacobs. It is one of the cultural versions of the story “//Cinderella//”. The following will explain the plot…there once lived a father and three daughters. One day he asked the daughters how much they loved him. The first two responded accordingly but the third responded differently. She told him that she loved him “as much as food loved salt.” With that note the father became enraged and kicked her out of the house into the wilderness where she devised a plan to make a disguise and secretly work as a maid in a rich home.

She worked as she was suppose to and did everything efficiently. They then called her Cap O’ Rushes because of her hooded cloak of rushes that she weaved in the meadow. The household was invited to a celebration being held by the master’s son. Cap O’ Rushes pretended to be tired so she wasn’t discovered in her rich clothing. As soon as they left she began to get ready and in no time she was at the ball. She danced with the master’s son all night and before the last dance came to an end she was given a ring by the master’s son. She then went home and pretended as if nothing had happened at all.

The next morning they received news that the master’s son lay bedridden in his house due to illness of heartbreak. He requests his cook to make his morning gruel, but Cap O’ Rushes, in meaning to reveal her true identity, decides to make it instead. She puts the ring inside the meal and when the master’s son is done with his meal he discovered it. In his astonishment he asks who had made the meal. The cook presents Cap O’ Rushes saying that she had made the meal. Soon after the date is set for Cap O’ Rushes and the master’s son’s wedding. Before the celebration is set to start, Cap O’ Rushes tells the cook to add no salt into the meat. She has planned to reveal to her father that she really does love him. He is invited and when he is there, he truly realizes how much his daughter loves him. They then fulfill their lives... and live happily ever after.

**//Ireland// ** //Cap O’ Rushes// is an Irish tale but it did not originate in Ireland. It actually started in England but because of the English occupation and influence it eventually became an Irish tale. A form of traditional dancing that is cherished by all is tap-dancing and traditional Irish jigs, reels, and many similiar dances. Meals include corn beef and cabbage and traditional drinks like Barley Water. Ireland's main religion is Christianity. One of their most symbolic objects is the shamrock that was introduced by St. Patrick. Ireland's two official languages are English and Irish Gaelic.

[|Cap O' Rushes Cinderella Variant]

[|Irish Meals and Customs]

[|Flag of Ireland] [|**Irish Map**]