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Nollaig Shona
"Christmas Greetings!"
Courtesy of:
of-ireland.info
In Ireland, late
fall is the time of the year to make the house
ready for the upcoming holiday celebrations.
An
Irish home is cleaned top to bottom, and special
holiday linens would be brought out of storage.
Olden days in Ireland would see the home being
white washed and general repairs to the home.
Once all is clean it is ready for festive
Christmas decorating!
Irish Celtic
Traditions
No Irish home
would be complete without the holly. Holly with
its glossy green leaves and festive red berries
are perfect for holiday decorating. At Christmas
in Ireland, holly was used to decorate the
entire house. A spray was placed over the door
as well as on the mantle, around picture frames,
among the plates on the cupboard, as candle
rings and in other areas of the home. Gifts of
holly boughs were also given to neighbors. One
charming folklore superstition was that the
fairy folk would come in out of the cold to find
shelter in the holly branches.
To the Celtics holly represented both life and
rebirth, the evergreen leaves symbolized life
during a time when all else was bare and the red
berries represented the coming of Spring. With
the coming of Christianity to Ireland the
berries took on a new meaning, new life in
Christ.
Irish Food
The Christmas
cooking would start early with the making of the
plum pudding, breads and spiced beef. A
traditional Irish Christmas meal might consist
of roasted goose, potatoes, cranberry sauce,
vegetables, sausages, and puddings. Spiced beef
is often eaten sliced cold with fresh bread in
the days after the main feast.
Irish
Hospitality
Hospitality is
abundant in Ireland and it is reflected in many
holiday customs. A lighted candle would be
placed in the window as a welcome beacon for
both traveler and wandering priest. The candle
is placed in the window on Christmas eve to
signify the welcome the Holy family looking for
shelter. Another aspect of Irish hospitality is
seen after the Christmas meal. The doors are
left unlocked and the table is set with bread
and milk for travelers who might come in the
night after seeing the welcome of the lighted
candle in the window.
The 12 Days of
Christmas
The twelve days
of Christmas are celebrated between the birth of
Christ, December 26 and the Epiphany, coming of
the Magi) January 6. A small gift would be given
on each day during this time.
The 12 days of
Christmas included many festivities including
parties and the visiting of friends, family and
neighbors. Twelfth night would be the end of the
celebrations and the day that holiday
decorations were taken down.
An Irish
Christmas Blessing
The light of
the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you. |
