1. Let's start with the thoughts of the Celtic druids. For them, the winter solstice was an important celebration, the knowledge that on the day following the darkest day of winter the sun would start getting stronger. On the Julian calendar apparently the winter solstice occurred closer to December 25. The druids believed the sun stood still for 12 days from the solstice on the 25th to January 6. Interestingly, in combining Christianity with paganism, the Christian story is that it took 12 days from the birth of Christ on the 25th to the 6th of January for the Magi to arrive in Bethlehem - Epiphany.
During this time, pagan Celts kept the Yule log burning day and night and hung mistletoe in their homes as a symbol of fertility and life. And one thing I did not know: the Celtic Church banned the use of mistletoe up until the Victorian Age. An aside: those canny Scots kept the Yule log burning to make sure no wayward sidhe (fairies) crept down the chimney.
2. In Scotland, first-footing is still popular on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve). If the first person over the threshold is a tall, dark stranger, he'll bring luck to the home. A red-head spells trouble - probably because the Vikings were red-heads and the last person you wanted at your door was a Viking warrior.
3. Mummers, dressed in costume, were also popular. They'd go around the outside of a home, pounding on all four walls to chase the Old Year out.
4. Welsh villagers celebrated with Eistoddfode, singing and caroling. These carols would be presented in the village square with a prize awarded to the best of the new ones.
5. Another Welsh custom, this one a bit odd, was Mari Ilwyd - a young woman would dress as Mari Ilwyd and roam the village carrying a horse's skull on a stick. Whoever was bitten by the horse's jaw would have to pay a penalty.
6. The Welsh have roast goose for Christmas dinner and children are treated with taffy, pull toffee -a slightly derogative term for a Welshman. Children also got skewered apples stuck with raisins and fruit.
7. New Year's Day is known as Calennig, which actually means "1st day of the month". It comes from the Latin "kalends", which is the root of the word "calendar".
There are a great number of Irish customs to explore.
8. The Irish celebrations are lavish, spreading from Christmas Eve to Epiphany (January 6). Women baked Christmas puddings and one slice was given out to family and friends on Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, and the 12th Night.
9. On Christmas Eve, milk and bread are left on the door stoop and the door remains unlocked as a sign of hospitality.
10. One rather strange custom - The Wren Boys Procession. Village lads, dressed in costumes and carrying holly bush twigs, would go from house to house, singing for money to feed the "starving wren" (most likely to line their pockets).
11. Houses, barns and outbuildings would be whitewashed the week before New Year's to purify them for the upcoming year.
12. Often holly bushes, with their bright red berries, would be used to decorate the home instead of a Christmas tree. Red berries bring luck and it was also a way for the poor to decorate their homes,
13. January 6 was and still is known as Little Women's Christmas. It was the one day in the year that Irish housewives could leave behind their chores and spend the day together, simply having fun. They'd invade the men's domain and have a stout and sandwiches in the snug of the local pub. Meanwhile, despite risking being known as "auld women", the men took over the household chores. It is, by the way, bad luck to take down holiday decorations before Little Women's Christmas.
14. The Welcoming Candle is placed and lit in the window as a sign of hospitality. It meant the household would welcome the Holy Family and not turn them out to a manger. During the anti-Catholic years, it was also a way to tell passers-by that this was a home where it was safe to say Mass.
15. No milk and cookies for Santa. In Ireland Father Christmas enjoys mince pies and a bottle of Guinness!
16. Children awoke to a sack of presents at the foot of the bed - not gifts beneath the Christmas tree. A big present, if one was left, would be unwrapped beneath the tree - perhaps because after all the tippling on Guinness in his travels Father Christmas might have been a bit too tipsy to wrap the gift.
And there you have it. Have a wonderful Holiday Season no matter what traditions you follow.
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur.
