Stephen’s Day because of the wrens’ betrayal of the English. For a long time after that, wrens (also known to the Irish as the Devil’s Bird) were sacrificed on St. A flock of wrens interrupted them as they were about to enact their ambush of the English. The legend is that there was a group of Irish rebels who gathered and organized to overthrow their English oppressors. Stephen’s Day, and it commemorates something that happened during the Penal times.
In Ireland, an event called the Wren Boy Procession takes place on St. Stephen’s Day (also known as Boxing Day in other parts of the UK and its commonwealth). The Wren Boy Procession: The day after Christmas is also a holiday in Ireland, known as St. Some Irish still do this on Christmas Eve, or they have the meal themselves in honor of the holidays and the religious meaning behind them. The meal usually consisted of some milk, with bread baked with raisins and caraway seeds. The Catholics in Ireland would set out a simple repast for Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve.
Because holly was something that grew easily in cold climates, it was something they could acquire for free to decorate their homes and make them more festive.Ī Laden Table: This is another tradition that goes back to the pre-Penal times Irish Catholic tradition. This meant the Irish didn’t have much extra money to buy holiday decorations. It started after England took over governance of Ireland, bringing over nobility and landed gentry to colonize the island and forcing the native Irish into poverty. Holly on the Door: This is another incredibly common Irish Christmas tradition. Today, those who use it do so as an homage to those seeking shelter, like Mary and Joseph when they were searching for a place to stay so Mary could give birth. While it is less popular now than it was then, it is still used by many families, both Irish and Irish-inspired. The tradition faded out of fashion for a while, then came back to popularity in the 1970s.
It was an important code during a time when people wanted to practice their religion, and Catholicism was being persecuted by the Protestants.
It was a code for the Catholics in the neighborhood that this was a Catholic household, and a holiday Mass would be held in that home. The candle was not simply there to light the path of those out on the streets after dark.
It was started back in the penal times when the Irish would put a candle in the window in a position to make sure it was visible to anyone who was passing by. It is exactly what it says it is… placing a candle in a window. Irish Christmas TraditionsĪ Candle in the Window: This is one of the most common Irish Christmas traditions. Each one offers interesting insights into the lives of ancestors both recent and long ago. If you are of Irish descent, here are some unique Christmas and other holiday traditions that you may or may not know about. There are clues to family heritage in the traditions of our ancestors, holiday and otherwise. These holiday traditions can tell us a lot about our family backgrounds and give us insight into the lives of our ancestors. Most nations around the world have their own, unique Christmas traditions, as well as their own special holidays that no other nations or cultures celebrate.