Women's Christmas is celebrated in Ireland today
By: Molly Muldoon | Published Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM | Updated Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM
Read more: The top ten Irish Christmas traditions that make the season - SEE PHOTOSToday is a special day in Ireland when we celebrate the women who worked so tirelessly during the holiday period.
Nollaig na nBan or the Feast of the Epiphany, as it is more commonly known, marks the end of the Christmas period.
Traditionally in Ireland women would finally get a much needed rest after catering to everyone during the festivities.
In the south especially women would gather in each other’s homes and local pubs for a few stolen hours of gaiety while the men looked after the brood.
To me this is a wonderful holiday as it reminds us, as Irish people, about the strength of Irish women, especially mothers.
I am sure those of you who have been lucky enough to experience an Irish mammy will agree that nothing or no-one compares.
Before Ireland was flooded with money and “notions of upperosity”, the women who went before us were the backbone of the family, who seldom received much credit for rearing large families.
These are the women who would have celebrated today and been thrown by the insanity of a few hours peace to themselves with their female comrades from the neighborhood.
My two grandmothers raised 15 children between them, which has many benefits for me as a grandchild and niece, but had obvious drawbacks for them as mothers.
Our female ancestors in Ireland would think nothing of manual labor such as saving the turf, cutting the hay, and whitewashing the barns. Magically they would juggle such tasks with cooking for their large broods, cleaning and going through child birth every few years.
In old Ireland there was no mistaking the fact that the woman’s place was in the home.
Of course this fact seems like an insane concept to Ireland’s new breed of high-powered, well educated women.
Despite our evolution, the heart and soul of Irish women remain unaltered.
When catching my latest flight back to New York my mother got up at 5am to make tea and cut thick slices of her homemade brown bread, smothered with her homemade jam, simply because that is what Irish mammys do.
When we were teenagers all the girls would have a sleepover in Drake’s sitting room and the next morning Jenny’s mam would cook us all a full Irish. I can still smell the Clonakility black and white pudding.
When your friends spend ten minutes chatting to your mother in the kitchen before you realize they are even in the house.
When your best friend’s, boyfriend’s mother gets up at 1am to make you all tea after your night on the town before placing a hot water bottle in your bed.
The click of the kettle as it boils, the softened muffle of the fridge door as it opens, the familiar voice and the warm smile; an Irish mammy just going about her day.
And so I think this is one holiday that we should wholeheartedly embrace. Not just for wonderful Irish women and mothers but for females around the world.
At some stage today, take the time to appreciate those Irish women you have been lucky enough to encounter.
We may be getting married later, and having fewer children, but the Irish blood running through our veins, remains the same.
Read more: The top ten Irish Christmas traditions that make the season - SEE PHOTOS
8 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Searlit | Jan 07, 2011, 12:26 PM EST
That's lovely murphy66. Someone taught you well. I've see by your comments you have respect for women.
jamieLM | Jan 07, 2011, 09:02 AM EST
What a beautiful piece and a poignant tribute to Irish mothers.
Watereskhill | Jan 06, 2011, 11:49 PM EST
Thank you for this rich and marvellous piece. The Feast of the Epiphany shoved to make way for Valentine Cards on the shelves two days after Christmas. Thank you for reminding me of my mammy the boiled egg tea and toast that 'things will be okay'. And numerous other moments. I mentioned at work today that it was "the twelfth day of Christmas the close of The Season" Best to shut up. The next novelty is all that matters. Thanks again.
jacersagain | Jan 06, 2011, 10:25 PM EST
(... more for murphy66) Those who reject Virgin Mary’s milk when it's offered do lack nourishment, especially that of her own, and our Messiah, Christ. I’m sorry if your mom died so you could live. I urge you to live up to her and her trust in her child (spiritually that means you) and that you place your trust in Jesus, who died so that all could live in peace with his Dad, God. You’ll find you will have no need for any 6’s again and immensely surprising rewards will come. I wish Happy Christmas to my fellow Christians in the Eastern Churches at this celebratory time 2011, esp in Egypt. Dance in celebration, Hands up and wave them - Ah! To all Mothers! .... And to wise men, women and their camels train on this precious Christian Day! Ah! Murphy66, go and enjoin with your mother's spirit and really go Ah!
jacersagain | Jan 06, 2011, 10:14 PM EST
Ah thanks murphy66. Ah shucks and thanks again! You just reminded me. Me mammy and meself almost died together during my birth to life. True! But, Ah! The traditional time of celebrating the gift of a woman with a milk-producing mammary for her baby is Today (I would say Everyday). No wonder wise men, even if they were filthy rich, from all afar hugely and respectfully made it their business to go and find their way to a simple place where a virgin mother fed her child, a Teacher for all of us, children of His Father, and presented thankful gifts to her and to Joseph in the wings. Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh were the gifts, so the witnesses say, not a single monetary coin presentation in the crib place from any one of them. I’m grateful for having been being fed with my mother’s milk and not Nestlé’s, and still do through the Virgin Mother’s present-day spiritual feeds to me every day, like most people on earth do, including Muslim women and their families. (More...)
braughinhg | Jan 06, 2011, 02:26 PM EST
Every country should celebrate...my sisters are right now out in southern Ireland having dinner, a much deserved break as mostly they do all the preperations for the Festive Season. Happy New Year
antoman | Jan 06, 2011, 01:12 PM EST
Its a for the women..capiche. :)
antoman | Jan 06, 2011, 11:05 AM EST
Womens little xmas.