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IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 3:28:19 AM

SirDiscipliner69

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IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
==========================

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 suppressed and it is perhaps because of
this 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 a
symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they
travelled 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 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.

THE WREN BOY PROCESSION

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a
village against the local soldiers. 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 dwit'.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Ross

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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 5:10:02 AM

mistoferin

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Along with the candle in the window we always left out a loaf of fresh baked soda bread full of caraway and raisins and a pitcher of milk. You were also supposed to leave your door unlocked for the weary travelers (Mary and Joseph) but growing up in NYC made that a bit impractical. The next day we would enjoy the soda bread with our breakfast before church.

Oh yeah...and we still left cookies for Santa.

< Message edited by mistoferin -- 12/23/2006 5:11:42 AM >

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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 5:18:52 AM

JerseyKrissi72

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During the centuries when it was a crime to be Catholic and to practice one's faith, in public or private, in Ireland and England "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written as a "catechism song" to help young Catholics learn the beliefs of their faith. It was a memory aid-when being caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person.

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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 2:37:41 PM

CalliopePurple

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Jersey, what do the rest of the symbols stand for, then? I'm genuinely curious...learning offbeat random facts is a bit of an obsession.

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hajimete kimi ni atta hoshizora no shita de.
Kimi ni tsutaetai todokanai omoi demo
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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 2:47:45 PM

LadyEllen

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Irish xmas tradition?

Well, in Kerry, they dress up as ghouls, ghosts and witches and roam from door to door, playing a game known as trick or treat.

Now - no Irish person can complain thats racist, (except a Kerryman/woman), 'cause that one was told to me by an Irish guy. Whilst the English are forbidden now to ridicule the Irish for "bein' tick", the Irish tradition of ridiculing the Kerry people lives on.

E

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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 5:57:57 PM

mistoferin

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalliopePurple

Jersey, what do the rest of the symbols stand for, then? I'm genuinely curious...learning offbeat random facts is a bit of an obsession.

quote:

A Partridge in a pear tree = Jesus Christ, the son of God.
Two turtle doves = The Old and New Testaments
Three french hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the theological virtues.
Four calling birds = The four Gospels and/or the four Evangelists.
Five golden rings = The first five books of the Old Testament (The Pentateuch).
Six geese a-laying = Six days of creation.
Seven swans a swimming = The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven Sacraments.
Eight maids a-milking = The eight Beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing = The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (sometimes also listed as the nine classifications of angels).
Ten lords a-leaping = The Ten Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping = The eleven faithful apostles.
Twelve drummers drumming = The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.

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Peace and light,
~erin~

There are no victims here...only volunteers.

When you make a habit of playing on the tracks, you thereby forfeit the right to bitch when you get hit by a train.

"I did it! I admit it and I'm gonna do it again!"

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RE: IRISH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS - 12/23/2006 8:26:17 PM

CalliopePurple

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Thanks, erin. I still have this dream of appearing on Jeopardy and you never know what you'll be tested on there. And random knowledge is just fun.

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Kimi ni aitakute dare yori mo aitakute
hajimete kimi ni atta hoshizora no shita de.
Kimi ni tsutaetai todokanai omoi demo
boku no kokoro wa mada kimi o sagashiteiru.

Gackt - Kimi ni Aitakute

(in reply to mistoferin)

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