Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own.
Many of these customs have their roots in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being suppressed, and it is perhaps because of that that they have survived into modern times.
The candle in the window
The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is still practiced today. It has a number of purposes, but primarily it was an symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they traveled looking for shelter.
The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass as, during Penal Times, this was not allowed.
A further element of the tradition is that the candle should be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name "Mary."
The laden table
After the evening meal on Christmas Eve, the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk, and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveller, could avail of the welcome.
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The wren boy procession
During Penal Times, there was once a plot against the local soldiers in a village. They were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became known as "The Devil's bird."
On St. Stephens day, a procession takes place where a pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house and families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces. In olden times, an actual wren would be killed and placed on top of the pole.
This custom has to a large degree disappeared, but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.
Decorations
The placing of a ring of holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings.
All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas (January 6th). and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.
Traditional Gaelic salutation
The Gaelic greeting for "Merry Christmas" is "Nollaig Shona Duit," which is pronounced as "null-ig hun-a dit."
Article provided by The Information about Ireland Site
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.warlocks | Dec 18, 2011, 01:47 AM EST
I Always loved the Christmas Holiday Season The Christmas Tree & Lights, Candles in the Windows. as a young Lad i remember my parish Priest and the Nuns tell us kids most of the Christmas ornamentations came from Pagan Cultures.and had nothing to do with the Birth of Jesus. Looking back now i think they were very mean spirited People for telling a 3 grade class that. I Never forgot that ! what a way to Steal Christmas from young children. they were the True Grinch .
Murph46 | Dec 17, 2011, 12:29 PM EST
I dressed up as a wren boy ,but someone tried to make a lawn ornament out of me
joan1954 | Dec 17, 2011, 10:26 AM EST
My family had always kept the candle in the window and when my Army father was transferred back to Texas and built a home the base that held the candle was electrified and put in the window. Given that it was behind curtains made it safer.