The biggest celebration for the Irish is Christmas. This starts on the 8th of December and continues until the 6th of January. Since Ireland is predominantly Catholic, the majority of the celebrations surround the Catholic Church and their holiday calendar. The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day mass is widely attended, and there are prayers said for the dead while the graves are decorated with wreathes of holly and ivy. They light candles to show Mary that there is room for her and Jesus in their homes, and they focus on the crib as the main part of their decorations.
The Irish celebrate St. Stephens Day, which is the day after Christmas and is the equivalent to Boxing Day. The gifts are given to the employees and then everyone enjoys a day of horse racing and football. The Wren Boys Procession takes place on St. Stephens Day. This is a traditional walk around town carrying a long pole with a holly bush tied on the end. Originally, they would hunt and kill a wren and put him in this holly bush, and then walk around from house to house singing about the wren. They would dress up in homemade costumes and may be accompanied by harmonicas or accordions.
'The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
On St. Stephen's day was caught in the furze.'
They also asked for money. For themselves.
The wren is the smallest bird in Ireland and has the loudest voice. The little wren is the king of all birds, and it is said to have boasted that it flew higher than an eagle. Mainly because it was perched upon the head of an eagle when it took flight.
Wrens were often hunted during the medieval times, but now, they no longer stick a poor wren in the holly bush when they go singing about town.
The Wren Boys
San Nioclás brings presents to the children on the 6th of January, which is Little Christmas in the Irish tradition. Santa is said to enjoy mince pie and a pint of Guinness rather than cookies and milk. Children place sacks out for their gifts.The 6th is the Feast of Epiphany, and the men cook while the women have the day off. The women will take the day off to gather with their friends and chat, have tea, sew or just relax. Tea and cakes go a long way on the 6th.
The Puritans took hold of Ireland in the 17th Century and completely cancelled Christmas because they deemed it a waste and vulgar. While it was banned, there were soldiers that were given the task of going from home to home to make sure no one was enjoying themselves during this time of the year. King Charles II had more of a sense of humor, so when he was crowned king, he lifted the ban on the celebration and things went back to where they were before the Puritans had Cromwell at their bidding.
Purify the Soul
The Christmas Whitewashing is the time of the year that the farmers go through and whitewash their fences, homes and barns in an effort to start fresh. The Catholic Church did this symbolically by purifying their souls and waiting for Christ. This is a new year type tradition where all will start the new year without blemish.
Whitewashed cottage
The celebration of Christmas in Ireland is much more of a traditional religious ceremony rather than frivolous and fun. This is due to the religious nature of their nation.
Christmas Food
The women bake seed cake for each person. They also make a pudding for each day of Epiphany. The Christmas Eve meal is served and then the table is wiped clean before it is set again. This second setting includes a loaf of caraway seed bread and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a lighted candle. This table is set for Mary, so that she would have food and shelter. The door is left unlocked in order to offer room for Mary and Joseph, or any other traveler in need of shelter.
Christmas pudding with the lighted candles for Mary. Traditionally, the candles must stay lit until someone named Mary puts them out.
Mince pies and Guinness – Santa’s idea of a feast
All this celebration is not complete until you add gifts to the mix. Maybe you can find something in these lovely gifts that would bring a smile to the face of someone you love.
ninascorner
Handmade Custom Made Cotton Pewter Grey Lacy Bracelet/Cuff
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Raise a pint of Guinness in fare thee well ,and let us be about our journey. We only have two more stops and so much more to see!
Enjoy
Julie and Blu
Thank you so much Julie for promoting yet another one of our creations!! You efforts are so appreciated AND we get to enjoy another interesting story about a different nation and how they celebrate Christmas! I am happy to share each and every one of these fabulous creations...Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteKathy :)
I love all things Irish! I'll raise a pint to your blog and sing a song too!
ReplyDeleteGreat Irish Christmas story, I like the Mince pies and Guinness feast for Santa! Thank you for including my fine silver and hematite earrings, Off to share!
ReplyDeleteMy husband's favorite beer! He'd love to be Santa in Ireland! I enjoyed reading about these interesting Irish Christmas traditions and seeing a great selection of our items. Thank you for showing my hematite bracelet!
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish I could be in Ireland at Christmas! ;) Thanks as always for these informative posts on celebrations of Nativity in different cultures.
ReplyDeleteAnna
I'm Irish and learned a few new things. I always learn something new when I read your blogs! Thanks for including my sunflowers and gourds wall hanging!
ReplyDeleteI'm Irish and learned a few new things. I always learn something new when I read your blogs! Thanks for including my sunflowers and gourds wall hanging!
ReplyDeleteI'm Irish and learned a few new things. I always learn something new when I read your blogs! Thanks for including my sunflowers and gourds wall hanging!
ReplyDeleteI'm Irish and learned a few new things. I always learn something new when I read your blogs! Thanks for including my sunflowers and gourds wall hanging!
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting learning about other cultures and celebrations. Thank you so much for all the promotions and time to create these wonderful blogs.
ReplyDeleteBoy, I sure keyed in that and Irish Santa prefers mince pie and a pint o' Guinness rather than milk and cookies - my kind of man!!! Must be my strong Scots/Irish roots (: Am so glad that wrens are now safe from the Wren Boys. Fascinating post, as always, Julie and Blu. Thank you for adding my trilobite earrings in with the rest of the beauties. Will share far and wide!
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful trip. And, really, how can you go wrong when a pint of Guinness is involved
ReplyDeleteBeautiful selections this week, thank you so much for including my gray heather scarf. Shared!
ReplyDeleteI love reading the different nationality Christmas's! Makes me wish I was there :-) thank You for including my shell pearl necklace! ~Eve
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed my trip to Ireland. And those mince pies! Yum. Thank you Julie and Blu for another, very affordable trip. Off to promote.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I just read another cool bedtime story! These trips are really fun - all your time and research unearth such tasty and interesting tidbits. I chuckled, too, when I read that Santa's snack preferences differ a bit from our side of the pond. I did have to google furze, though...it's a gorse (um, OK), which is a spiny Evergreen shrub. Thanks, Julie and Blu, for another Christmas Around the World tale!
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie and Blu for the trip to Ireland, and thank you for including my bracelet. I hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAnother fun and interesting read, this time from the Irish perspective. Every culture that you've written about has its own special food and customs to celebrate the "most wonderful time of the year." I hope that many of the gift ideas you've highlighted find a new home this holiday season!
ReplyDeleteThis was so much fun to read! I've been to Ireland three times and just love it there. :) Now I've been there at Christmastime too. Thanks so much, Julie and beautiful Blu! And thanks for including my bracelet here. Have already tweeted and will be tweeting again!
ReplyDeleteAnother fun story of cultural traditions around the world - I am a little partial to Irish anything and it sounds like they certainly have fun!! Thanks for including my Filet Crochet Lily!!
ReplyDeleteAnother fun and interesting blog. Must share.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie and Blu for including my Rainy Day Smokey Grey Earrings.
I surely enjoy this trip to Ireland. Fascinating just like the other trips and tales. Thank you so much for including my elephant tags!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for another adventure to the traditions of the world! I will be sharing so others can enjoy the adventure!! http://rbl.ms/17O59M4
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog posts on the various Christmas traditions. Thank you for sharing and thank you for including our Custom Softball Decal in your post. I will share!
ReplyDelete