Irish New Year traditions that span the centuries

candles on windowsills to guide joe and mary's way with son jesus' imminent arrival.

My mom is a redhead and I have alot of red in my hair... hmm, may want to stay away from the front door on New Years Day.

Throwing "holy water" on the animals in the farmyard is the tradition I remember. This would be water blessed at Christmas Mass and each houshold would bring a bottle home. It was used for the Station Mass in the house during the year and also kept beside the bed when someone was dying. when the thunder and lightening came, it was used to bless the house also.By this time Easter holy water would have been brought home.

Growing up, my mother always put a lump of coal by the front door "for the poor" as a symbol and a pledge to be charitable to others during the new year. Of course, the coal was still there the next morning but it was a tradition that I still carry out these many years later. I have been using the same lump of coal for over 40 years and I bring it back in and put it by my fireplace in the morning. That way when I see it throughout the year, it reminds me what it means. My oldest son carries on the tradition as well. (Hard to find a place to buy a single lump of coal these days...)

Why should a red-haired girl bring "hardship and grief"? This tradition reminds me of the always-unseen red-haired girl loved by Charlie Brown, Charles Schultz's cartoon character. Charlie Brown would stand in poison oak to get a peek at her coming out of her house. He could never summon the courage to speak to her, and though his fondest dream was to dance with her, he never did that, sadly. "Good grief, Charlie Brown!" I finally understand your misery; if you were Irish, you would have figured out about that re-haired girl.

My grandmother would sew a new apron for everyone and put a penny in the pocket and give them for the New Year. Therefore insuring that they would not be broke in the coming year

That's a nice one, leaving a setting for those who have passed away. I also like going in the front door and out the back. That's the kind of Irish tradition that sounds familiar to me.

also, when you make tat first visit at the new year, you're meant to bring a lump of coal (to add to the host's fire. signifying warmth and friendship) and a loaf of bread (also a sign of friendship, and a wish for prosperity in the coming year).