Irish Christmas Traditions
Nollaig Shona Duit!
Irish Christmas Traditions
Nollaig Shona Duit!
Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night
Most Irish people are Catholic and Christmas Day is almost entirely a religious festival. Most people go to church (Catholic Mass) and will find the church beautifully decorated and a "creche" or manger scene before the altar.
The next eleven days are set aside for parties and a great amount of visiting. This ends on the twelfth night which is Epiphany.
A distinctive feature of Christmas decorations is
the very large candle placed near the front
window and lighted on Christmas Eve. According to
one belief, the candle long served as a symbol of
welcome to Mary and Joseph who sought shelter in
vain on that first Christmas Eve. The ceremony of
lighting the candle is one of simple ancient
rituals during which prayers are said for the
departed and the privilege of striking the match
is usually given to a daughter named Mary.
(Another tradition is that the candle be lighted
by the youngest member of the family and snuffed
out only by someone named Mary).
For centuries it has been a practice in Irish
villages to set the kitchen table after the
evening meal on Christmas Eve. On it is a loaf of
bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a
pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door
is left unlatched. Thus, hospitality is extended
to the Holy Family or to any traveler that might
be on the road. Also it is said that the candles
were "kindled to guide the angels who on
Christmas night direct the New Born from the
Heavens".
The story of the abiding religious faith to which
this nation has clung to so strongly for
centuries is reflected in the symbolism of the
lighted candle in the window, which spells out
the simple beauty of the the Christmas story.
This flickering symbol also served as a signal in
times past to any priest seeking shelter and
protection that he was welcome in this house and
that it was safe to say Mass there.
Irish actress, Roma Downey, who portrays the
angel Monica on Touched By an Angel, is in
keeping with the tradition of her native land,
where families from her hometown of Derry light
candles in every window on Christmas Eve as a
welcome to friends, Santa and wayward travelers.
Candle lighting at this time can also be traced
back to antiquity, to the time when ancient
Romans lighted candles at the midwinter festival
to signify the return of the sun's light after
the winter solstice.
The glossy-leaved holly with it's clusters of red
berries, popular as a door decoration in North
America can be traced to early settlers from the
south of Ireland. They came to the United States
during the Great Potato Famine. Holly grows wild
in the south of Ireland and at Christmas time
houses are lavishly decorated with holly.
In some areas, due to English influence, it is Father Christmas who the children wait for
to fill their stockings on Christmas Eve. In other areas of Ireland, due to western influences, you will find Santa Claus instead.
Holly Wreaths
Santa Claus/Father Christmas
The History of the Christmas Carol
"The Twelve Days of Christmas"
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.
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.
So, how do you say Merry Christmas in Irish, you
ask?
Nollaig Shona Duit ('null-ig hun-a dit')
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Last updated April 2003