Christmas       in       Ireland

Christmas   for   Irish  people ,who are Catholics, lasts from Christmas . Eve to the feast of Epiphani  on January 6^th ,which some Irish people call little Christmas .Epiphani isn’t now widely celebrated!

 adorned with greenery ,which they believe helps the Holy family or any poor to find its way!

The day after Christmas Day , St. Stephen’s Day is also very important in Ireland .One  very old tradition is the Wren Boys Procession that takes place ,but no wren is hunted or used .The Wren Boys Procession mostly died out in the early 20^th century although it still takes place in some towns including Dingle ,in Country Kerry in the south west of Ireland. An addition to turkey for Christmas dinner ,it is sometimes spiced beef. This can be served hot or cold. Dessert is commonly a Christmas pudding !

New year in Ireland

On New Year’s eve, families remember those who have passed  away  during  the  year  by  setting    a  place  for  them  at  the  dinner  table  and leaving the door unlocked.

 Many people go to dinners, parties or galas in private homes , pubs or hotels in the late afternoon or early evening. Many of these events feature some kind of countdown to midnight and the New Year. At the stroke of midnight, there may be fireworks, short parades of performances by traditional musicious .Many parties continue into the early hours of January  1^st.

Winter celebracion has been held in Ireland for thousands of years. These marked the end of the fall harvest  season and the darkest part of the year. People celebrated by holding feasts, social events and lighting fires to bring light into the dark. These customs are still in modern New Years Eve celebration in Ireland .Now ,December 31^st is also the last day of the tax in the Republic of Ireland.