Irish Christmas

Saint Stephen's Day is celebrated on 26 December in Ireland. St. Stephen's Day (Lá Fhéile Stiofáin), or the Day of the Wren (Lá an Dreoilín), is an occasion to commemorate the life of St Stephen, a Christian martyr. Most people in Ireland today spend the day quietly with close friends or family.

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became known as ‘The Devil’s bird’.

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle.

There is a beautiful Irish tradition that is very popular in the United States. I know you have seen those candles in the windows at Christmas. The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is still practiced today.

Have you ever heard of the Irish Christmas Tradition of "Women's Christmas"? In Ireland on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, it is when traditionally the Irish finish celebrating Christmas. It is also known as Nollaigh na mBean in Irish (Women’s Christmas).

Traditional Irish Christmas Plum Pudding has had humble beginnings. Plum pudding was originally a porridge flavored with scraps of meat or fish, thickened with bread crumbs and bound together with eggs, fruit and spices. During the Tudor and Stuart period dried prunes were added to the pudding which became known as plum porridge.

Ireland, like the majority of nations, has a variety of unique Christmas customs that are unique to the country. It is possible that many of these traditions had their origins at a period when the Gaelic culture and religion of the land were being repressed, which explains why they have lasted until present times. Read all about these wonderful Irish Christmas Traditions including the candle in the window, holly wreaths, the Laden table and the Wren Boy procession.