The Christmas traditions Ireland are not different to those that can be found in lots of other sides of the world, lots of shopping, foods are plenty, gifts are exchanged, and the main man of our children is Santa Claus!
These are just some of those widely practiced customs surrounding the Irish Christmas, although of course each household will have their personal celebration and traditions in observing the season through their own way.
These are just some of those widely practiced customs surrounding the Irish Christmas, although of course each household will have their personal celebration and traditions in observing the season through their own way.
A Light in their Windows
One old tradition that lots of Irish people keep on observing is the putting of the candle in the windows on Christmas Eve, this is a symbol to greet the strangers and also to consider those who are distant from home. I’m not totally sure how well the strangers dropping by to have a visit would really be received were they to get the symbol literally!
However, the little lights gleaming in windows are giving a welcoming and warm feeling when walking by the town.
One old tradition that lots of Irish people keep on observing is the putting of the candle in the windows on Christmas Eve, this is a symbol to greet the strangers and also to consider those who are distant from home. I’m not totally sure how well the strangers dropping by to have a visit would really be received were they to get the symbol literally!
However, the little lights gleaming in windows are giving a welcoming and warm feeling when walking by the town.
Decorating Public Places
The town center decorations had been erected and the lights turned in early December or late November – it seemed to get even ahead with every passing year.
The streets are packed with lights, shops to have its most impressive window displays and massive real Christmas trees go up within the shopping centers and in town squares. Cribs are erected and some are almost life size, within churches, shopping malls and town centers.
Decoration outside the houses was already a rarity until a turn of the century but had been more common, with most of the people placing on quite a lavish displaying of lights.
The town center decorations had been erected and the lights turned in early December or late November – it seemed to get even ahead with every passing year.
The streets are packed with lights, shops to have its most impressive window displays and massive real Christmas trees go up within the shopping centers and in town squares. Cribs are erected and some are almost life size, within churches, shopping malls and town centers.
Decoration outside the houses was already a rarity until a turn of the century but had been more common, with most of the people placing on quite a lavish displaying of lights.
Carol Singers
From around the first week during December you will hardly walk up in the street or enter at the shopping centers in any corners of Ireland without meeting the group of singers that belt-out Christmas Carols, with differing degrees of skill! Consistently the mood had been good, although, singers usually dress for the event and they had been singing their heart out for the good cause, so when you are enjoying an entertainment do drop some couple of Euros to the collectors of the group.
Pretty much every concert hall, church, school, and theatres have their Christmas carol concerts also. Among the most famous in Dublin are those Carols by Candlelight concert at the Church or Cathedral, while in Cork, Christmas Concert at the City Hall is one perennial favorite.
From around the first week during December you will hardly walk up in the street or enter at the shopping centers in any corners of Ireland without meeting the group of singers that belt-out Christmas Carols, with differing degrees of skill! Consistently the mood had been good, although, singers usually dress for the event and they had been singing their heart out for the good cause, so when you are enjoying an entertainment do drop some couple of Euros to the collectors of the group.
Pretty much every concert hall, church, school, and theatres have their Christmas carol concerts also. Among the most famous in Dublin are those Carols by Candlelight concert at the Church or Cathedral, while in Cork, Christmas Concert at the City Hall is one perennial favorite.
Little Christmas
Little Christmas is also called as the ‘Women’s Christmas’ and this usually falls on January 6th (the Feast of Epiphany), and marked the official conclusion of the Christmas season. Usually the guys of the house are taking over for a day, preparing the meals and permitting the ladies to have the rest. The tradition had died out for a bit, and it will be more about taking back the tradition if this practice will bring back again.
Little Christmas is the day also when the trees and all the Christmas ornaments are being taken down and place into the storage.
Little Christmas is also called as the ‘Women’s Christmas’ and this usually falls on January 6th (the Feast of Epiphany), and marked the official conclusion of the Christmas season. Usually the guys of the house are taking over for a day, preparing the meals and permitting the ladies to have the rest. The tradition had died out for a bit, and it will be more about taking back the tradition if this practice will bring back again.
Little Christmas is the day also when the trees and all the Christmas ornaments are being taken down and place into the storage.