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Nollaig
Shona
"Christmas
Greetings!"
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.
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Irish Culture