Christmas in Ireland

Stefan Andreea
Petrescu Mara
Preparations for Christmas
Ireland, like most countries, has a number of
Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of
these customs have their root in the time when the
Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being
supressed and it is perhaps because of 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 practised today. It
has a number of purposes but primarily it was an
symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they
travelled looking for shelter.
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 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.
All decorations are traditionally taken down on
Little Christmas (January 6th.) and it is
considered to be bad luck to take them down
beforehand.

Christmas Day
Many people observe Christmas Day by attending
special church service, which are often held at
sunrise or in the early morning. They then spend the
rest of the day at home with family members and
close friends.
Public life is generally quiet on Christmas Day.
Banks, post offices and many other businesses and
organizations are closed. A few stores and pubs are
open for a limited number of hours. Public transport
service schedules vary. In many areas, there is no
public transport.
Mid-winter festivals were held in Ireland for
thousands of years. Celtic rituals included lighting
fires to tempt the sun back to the earth and holding
feasts and parties. Many of these rituals are now
reflected in the Christian celebrations of Jesus' birth.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus, and traditionally "Father of Christmas"
in Irish English, is known in Ireland as Santy or
Santa. He brings presents to children in Ireland,
which are opened on Christmas morning. It is
traditional to leave a mince pie and a bottle or a
glass of Guinness along with a carrot for Rudolph.
Most big shopping centres and malls have a Santa's
grotto setup from late November so that shoppers
and visitors with kids can visit Santa and tell him
what they want for Christmas.
Traditional meals and
activities
. Christmas dinner is a formal meal. It is often served in the early
afternoon and is a highlight of the Christmas period. Common foods
include:
Roast goose, chicken, duck, pheasant or turkey.
Boiled or smoked ham.
Spiced beef.
Stuffing.
Gravy.
Roast, mashed or boiled potatoes.
A range of vegetables, including carrots, turnips and Brussels
sprouts.
After the main meal has been cleared away, people often eat trifle
or Christmas pudding with rum sauce and brandy butter.
Christmas swim
It is traditional to swim in the sea on Christmas
morning.This is often done in aid of charity.The 40
Foot in Sandycove in Dublin is a traditional venue for
this where hundreds brave the cold temperatures
and jump into the sea.
Preparations for New Years
Eve
Usually, the morning and noon time of New Years
Eve is spent cleaning the house, making
preparations for the evening parties, accumulating
the supplies and food stock, and ensuring cellar to
be completely equipped with coal. People make
sure to put up fresh and preferably new bed sheets
and sofa covers, and wear new clothes. All these
aspects are performed with a belief to get started in
the New Year, with good luck and prosperity on their
side, as well as to ensure abundance in the coming
year.
New Years Eve and Night
Many people go to dinners, parties or galas in
private homes, pubs or hotels in the late afternoon or
early evening. Many of these events feature some
kind of countdown to midnight and the New Year. At
the stroke of midnight, there may be fireworks, short
parades or performances by traditional musicians.
Many parties then continue into the early hours of
January 1.
Although people generally have to work on New
Year's Eve, many take some of their annual leave on
this day and the days surrounding it. Hence, it is a
popular period to visit relatives and take a short
vacation in Ireland or abroad.
According to old tradition, people in the past cleaned
their homes, put fresh sheets on their beds and
stocked up on food and other household supplies in
the last days of December. They hoped that this will
give them a fresh and prosperous start to the New
Year.
New Year's Eve is not a public holiday. However,
banks, post offices, stores and other businesses may
close earlier than usual. Many restaurants, pubs and
clubs are only open to people with invitations or
tickets. People wishing to spend some or all of the
evening in a particular venue are advised to check
details of the event and reserve a ticket well in
advance. Public transport services generally run as
usual. However, they may be reduced or stop in the
late afternoon and evening.
Winter celebrations have been held in Ireland for
thousands of years. These marked the end of the fall
harvest season and the darkest part of the year.
People celebrated by holding feasts, social events
and lighting fires to bring light into the dark. These
customs are still seen in modern New Year's Eve
celebrations in Ireland. Now, December 31 is also the
last day of the tax year in the Republic of Ireland.
Traditional meals and activities
Ireland is home to some of the most unique traditions and
superstitions and this is especially true when it comes to ringing
in the New Year.
Centuries ago it was customary to begin the New Year with a
spotlessly clean house. As a result houses were thoroughly
cleaned as it signified a fresh start to the New Year.
Another tradition involved banging on doors and walls of the
house with Christmas bread to chase the bad luck out of the
house and invite the good spirits in.
On New Years night, families would remember those who has
passed away that year before by setting a place for them at the
dinner table and leaving the door unlatched.
A lot of meaning was also placed on who would be the first
person to pass through the door on New Years day. If it was a
tall dark handsome man, this would bring the home and its
occupants good luck but if it was a red haired girl it would bring
hardship and grief.
Those who were single were advised to place sprigs of mistletoe,
holly and ivy leaves under their pillow so they would dream of
their future wives and husbands.
At midnight many would enter the house through the front door
and leave through the back door for good luck.