|
Christmas traditions in Ireland  CHRISTMAS
in Ireland wouldn’t be the same without those special customs that
make it all the more traditional.
Of course there’s the shopping, exchanging of gifts and eating too
much.
But there’s also the little touches which add that something extra.
Take the light in the window. Many homes continue to observe the tradition
of placing of a candle in the window on Christmas Eve — a symbol
to welcome strangers and to remember those who are far away from home.
The little lights shining in all the windows give a warm and welcoming
feel when walking through any town.
Most people will also have at least a small crib in the house with the
baby Jesus only placed in the manger on Christmas morning.
Cribs are also erected in churches, town centres and even shopping malls.
For the real intrepid ones there’s the Christmas swim. The hardiest
among us like nothing better than getting out in the open air and away
from all the excess on Christmas morning.
One long-standing tradition in Dublin’s Sandycove suburb is the
Christmas Day dip in the sea.
It may be freezing but anyone who takes part says it’s fun.
Then there’s probably the most famous tradition of all — the
Wren Boys
St. Stephen’s Day is when the Wren Boys come out — mostly
in the south of Ireland but also in certain localities elsewhere.
Hunting the Wren is an ancient ritual — in its original form a wren
was hunted, killed and hung on a holly bush.
According to legend the wren had earned this punishment by betraying the
hiding place of St. Stephen — the first martyr.
In reality Hunting the Wren is a tradition that almost certainly refers
back to pagan times — predating Christianity and related to the
position of the wren as the king of birds in Celtic Mythology.
Nowadays no birds are killed. Instead those engaged in the hunt —
the Wren Boys — dress in straw suits or other costumes and go from
door to door, beating drums and playing whistles, asking for a penny for
the wren.
The pennies collected were in the past used to fund a big party for the
Wren Boys.
This — along with its probable pagan origins — made the tradition
very unpopular with the clergy, and their disapproval was instrumental
in the tradition almost dying out in the mid-20th century.
It has been revived now though and since the money collected goes to local
charities the clergy are much more supportive.
Finally there’s Little Christmas — also known as Women’s
Christmas and falling on January 6.
This marks the official end of the Christmas season.
Traditionally the men of the house take over for the day — preparing
meals and allowing the women to have a rest.
Little Christmas is also the day when the tree and all the Christmas decorations
are taken down and put into storage for another year.
It is considered unlucky to take the decorations down prior to this. |
