Whether you live in Ireland or not, it is easy to enjoy many of the activities and traditions that make Christmas so special in this ancient country. As a people, the Irish really know how to enjoy themselves and Christmas is no exception, no matter where they live. The old Celtic customs were adapted and changed when Christianity reached Ireland and these, together with some more modern ones combine to brighten up the dark winter days.
In almost any Irish home you will find holly at Christmas, it grows wild in southern Ireland. For the Celts, holly symbolized life and rebirth. When all the tree branches were bare and there was no color or flowers, the red berries signified the coming of spring. When Christianity arrived it came to mean new life in Christ and there is also a lovely legend that the fairy folk would come indoors and find shelter from the cold in the branches of the holly. Good places to put holly for Christmas are above the door, on the mantle shelf, between the plates on shelves of a dresser or cupboard, or as candle rings to decorate the table. Any bride choosing to have a Christmas wedding could include holly in her bouquet.
Christmas Lights on Grafton Street, Dublin
One of the traditional Christmas treats in Ireland is spiced beef. In years gone by it was always made at home, but now most people buy it ready spiced from the butcher, who will likely have his own secret blend of spices to flavor the meat. The process takes about three weeks until the beef has absorbed all the flavors before cooking. It has a unique flavor, with a dark crust of spices and remains pink in the middle. Many Southern Irish people will include spiced beef in their festive menu, served hot or cold. Of course there also the other Christmas favorites such as roast goose, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce and puddings. Christmas cakes and puddings in Ireland are prepared early and left to mature. They are rich with fruit and nuts and moistened with Guinness, brandy or both!
A lighted candle is often placed in the window to welcome travelers and another on the table to welcome the Holy Family. After the Christmas meal the doors are sometimes unlocked and bread and milk left on the table for weary travelers, seeing the lighted candle in the window. In the many Irish houses that still have an open fire, a turf fire supplemented with coal is lit to warm the room and provide a cheery atmosphere. Turf burns slowly and doesn’t give a lot of heat, hence the addition of coal or wood. Chestnuts are delicious roasted on an open fire and toast always tastes much nicer prepared this way.
Handel’s “Messiah” was performed for the very first time in St Michan’s church, Dublin, the organ that he played it on is still there and it is often performed in the run up to Christmas, sometimes as a sing-a-long. Christmas is traditionally a family time and most places are closed for the day. A modern tradition which is great fun is the wearing of Christmas sweaters. It began as grandmothers and aunties gave unfortunate family members the most ugly sweaters possible as Christmas presents, but on the streets of Ireland it has become almost a competition to wear the most extreme and ridiculous ones possible. Heaven knows what the ancient Celts would make of it!
Where ever you are this year, Nollaig shona Chughaibh, or Happy Christmas!
