Irish Christmas

Irish Christmas

Nollaig Shona Duit Merry Christmas
(Irish Gaelic) (English)

~ CHRISTMAS MIDI - "Wexford Carol" ~

" The Wexford Carol "
(an Irish carol)

Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark how all things came to pass;
From every door repelled alas!
As long foretold, their refuge all
Was but an humble ox's stall.

There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star,
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay,
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah was,
They humbly cast them at his feet,
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;
To whom God's angels did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear.
'Prepare and go', the angles said.
To Bethlehem, be not afraid:
For there you'll find, this happy morn,
A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind,
The shepherds went the babe to find,
And as God's angel had foretold,
They did our saviour Christ behold.
Within a manger he was laid,
And by his side the virgin maid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Who came on earth to end all strife.

Irish Christmas Traditions

In the Irish Gaelic, Christmas is called "Nollaig", pronounced "no-Lik" which comes from the Latin "natalica" or natal, meaning birthday.

Most Irish are Catholic and Christmas Day is almost entirely a religious festival. On Christmas Eve you will find them in church attending the Christmas Mass. The Church is beautifully decorated with greenery and there is always a "crèche", the French word for manger. It is usually set up before the altar. There is the Christmas meal after Mass.

The next eleven days are set aside for parties and a great amount of visiting, ending on the "Twelfth Night" which is Epiphany.

Native Irish Holly grows in southern Ireland, and at Christmas time homes are generously decked with holly...

( Fa, La, La, La, La - La, La, La, La! ).

Traditionally, a large candle is placed near the front window in each home and lit 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 those departed. The privilege of striking the match is usually given to a daughter named Mary. (Another tradition is that the candle be lit 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 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 - the simple beauty of 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.

The custom of putting candles in every window also is observed.

Of course, some Irish are Protestants and keep traditions that reflect the English culture. The children await the coming of Father Christmas to come to their homes and fill their stockings on Christmas Eve. He is tall and lean, resembling Father Time, and wears a long green fur robe and red cap which are trimmed in white fur, and brings toys, goodies and the even the Christmas tree. Nowadays, you will also find the American traditions being observed with Santa Claus.

Christmas Trees in Ireland

Christmas trees are brought in to Ireland from the Continent and are expensive. Many folk just decorate with Holly & Ivy. But for those who can afford a Christmas tree, they may be put up anytime in December and decorated with colored lights, tinsel, and baubles. Some people favor the angel on top of the tree, while others prefer the star.

The house is decorated with garlands, candles, holly and ivy.

Wreaths and mistletoe are hung on the door.

Wassail -from An Old-Fashioned Solstice

Means "to wish health to" one's apple trees, in the hope that they will bear well, and not leave the 'wassailer' out on a limb - so to speak. In addition, drums, bells, whistles etc. were used either to scare off evil spirits, or to wake the tree up; a libation of cider or ale was poured over the roots, and bread that had soaked in the 'wassailing' bowl was placed in the branches - an offering back to the tree.

The word 'wassail' comes from 'Ves heill', Norse for "be in good health". Wassail is a drink consisting of ale, cider, and/or wine sweetened with sugar and flavored with citrus and spices. This brew is traditionally served in a large "wassail bowl," garnished with small roasted apples and ladled into serving cups. Slices of toast might also be set to float in the bowl, later to be offered to the tree.

Here's a traditional wassail cheer, suitable for
hailing apple trees in your neighborhood:

Hats full, Caps full
Big bushel Bags full
Little heaps under the Stairs!
Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!
Hip Hip Hooray!

Wassail Punch

4 bottles Sherry or Madeira

12 apples, cored and baked

12 eggs, yolks and whites separated

8 ounces water

2 pounds sugar

1 tablespoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons ginger

6 cloves

1/2 teaspoon mace

6 allspice berries

Cinnamon stick

First, find a pot deep enough to hold 2 gallons. Boil water with nutmeg, ginger, cloves, mace, berries, and cinnamon. After boiling for 2 minutes, add sugar and sherry or Madeira. Cook slowly.

Beat separately the egg yolks and whites; fold together. Put beaten eggs in a large bowl, and slowly add small quantities of the heated wine-and-spice mixture. Stir each addition briskly. Once the brew has been thoroughly mixed, add the baked apples to the now-foaming mixture.

Variations: Add beer, cognac, cider, wine, or a mix of them. If you add cognac, do so just before adding the apples. When adding beer, cider, or wine, mix in the liquor after adding the apples. If both beer and wine are used, cook the spices and sugar in 16 ounces beer. Then, add the remaining beer and sherry, using 1 part sherry to 3 or 4 parts beer. Serve hot in warm Irish coffee mugs.

Note of Interest: Eggnog was derived from Wassail.

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 Collie 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.

Note: Nollaig Shona Duit is pronounced "noLik Suna Ditch"

Irish Christmas Customs

LINK - Memories of Christmas in Ireland ~ Hilda (Rogan) Jarratt grew up on a farm near Dublin, Ireland.

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