Christmas Legends and Traditions Around the World - Ireland
Every culture has its own version of the holiday. This series introduces us to Christmas folklore and traditions around the world.
Ireland
Christmas is celebrated on December 25th much like in UK and US and has similar traditions, but the Irish Christmas lasts from December 24th through the Feast of Epiphany, January 6th.
A very old tradition of lighting a large candle on the windowsill after sunset Christmas Eve is still practiced in many houses. The candle is left to burn all night, said to be a welcoming to light the way to the stable for Mary and Joseph. But this was also a beacon of hospitality dating back to the 17th century, to welcome all- family, friends and even strangers, anyone passing by, to come inside and enjoy the bountiful feast. The Irish hold a strong belief that noone should go without, especially at Christmastime. The candle was traditionally lit and extinguished by the daughter named Mary, or the youngest girl in the house.
This began when Catholic religion was outlawed and priests hid in fear for their lives. Families hoped their home and family would be blessed by a secretly traveling priest on Christmas Eve, and the candle signified this was a safe house and the doors would be unlocked.
But after seeing all these candles dotting the night, English soldiers became suspicious and began interrogations. So the families developed a quick solution- that they were lighting the way for Mary and Joseph, and the practice was dismissed by the English authorities as harmless superstition.
"The Father of Christmas- Santa or Santy, traditionally brings gifts while the children sleep over Christmas Eve night to be opened upon waking. Children leave Mince Pie and a bottle of Guinness for Santy, along with a carrot for Rudolph.
As in Italy, meat and dairy are not eaten the day before Christmas, although the Irish do not practice the Feast of the Seven Fishes fish is the meal of the day.
The day after Christmas Day is also a very important holiday. Known as St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day in the UK and Canada), workers have the day off and enjoy football matches and horse races.
The Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th) is celebrated in Ireland as 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas. Women of the land all get the day off and the men do the cooking and cleaning while ladies gather with friends to gossip, have cake and tea , and enjoy their day off.
It is traditional to swim in the ocean on Christmas morning, and in modern times is often done for a charity. The 40 Foot Sandycove in Dublin is a traditional and recently popular venue- hundreds brave freezing temperatures and jump into the sea.
The Irish find it so important that noone goes without on Christmas that they lay decorations and wreaths on their deceased loved one's graves.
Wren Boys Procession takes place on St. Stephen's Day. Based on an an ancient practice where a wren was killed and carried in a holly bush. Legends tell a wren foiled a plot against British soldiers by signaling the Irish hiding in bushes prepared to attack. Wrens were then considered the "Devils Bird", and killed, paraded around town on a pole. In modern times no creatures are killed or harmed.
It is considered bad luck to remove the decorations and tree before January 6.
The practice of placing a wreath on the front door began in Ireland. Holly was a widespread plant and gave the poor an easy way to decorate for the holidays.
Many workers are sent home early on Christmas Eve and are given the entire week off from Christmas Day and New Years Day with many businesses completely closed during this time.
Merry/Happy Christmas in Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Follow for more Christmas Around the World! Christmas in Italy
Sources: Ireland Information, Wikipedia, WhyChristmas.com
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Wow ..👍 ireland i wana vist ireland @arbitrarykitten
Ireland is on my list too :)
You have never lived in Ireland, have you ? lololol
( I have - 3 xmas times spent there - if it was sunny, it would be my home, but its wet and grey..only 99% of the time though..)
No, I have never, I am just researching... What did I do wrong? lol!
Nothing hun - I just found it amusing.
I haven't been in Ireland for 15 years- but it is was the least 'role reversal' country I can think of! - hence the laughter of that tradition - I never came across it.
I imagine if the tradition of the post xmas day swim was common ( never seen it myself), the population of Ireland would diminish rapidly - everyone is waaay too hungover, or still drunk!
LOL!!
so as all over the world,we celebrate christmas accordingly to our tradition in any way that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Exactly :) I love seeing how varied it is, culture to culture :)
This post has received a 0.31 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @banjo.
I loved it, sounds so much fun. Imagine this here in South Africa where it is the hotest time of year.
I will be making a post on Christmas in South Africa, are there any customs or traditions you would like to share?
Lovely account. Much the same as England, brrrr the boxing day swim is freezing !
I would have to be drunk to attempt that!
Or hung over as it normally early boxing day! Beer after
Yea, no, I couldn't do it hung over. I'd have to still be drunk and out of my mind!
haha wake up you quite sharpish!
I sometimes despair the uncouth culture here in the states. A couple of our biggest Christmas traditions are Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving when almost the whole country is on a deep discount and Christmas 'returning' on Boxing day, when there are huge long lines in every department store to bring back unwanted Christmas gifts.
Yea, this is true. But this practice is quickly being adopted by the rest of the world unfortunately.