Old Irish Christmas Traditions We Still Follow Today

The ancient Irish Celtics started practicing Christian customs after they were converted to Christianity by the Romans and Christian Missionaries from other countries. Some practices merged both pagan beliefs with Christian traditions, making the Irish Christmas tradition quite unique.

During the emigration of Irish and Scottish families to America due to the great potato famine, the Irish people brought with them ancient Celtic customs infused with Christian influences. Some of these foreign Celtic traditions were eventually adopted by their host country, America. From America, these Christmas customs spread to the rest of the globe.

Some examples of Christmas decorations that have Celtic cultural roots are the Christmas Hollies that adorn almost every home in the United States and other countries that recognize the Christmas holiday. The ancient Celts used holly bushes and berries to decorate their homes during Christmas because it was widely available during the Christmas season. It was popular with the Celts because anyone, even the poor people, could get them in the wild.

Another Celtic original tradition is using the mistletoe as decoration. Back in ancient times, the mistletoe was considered by the Celts as a mystical plant with certain magical powers. It was considered by the early Christian missionaries as a pagan practice and banned the mistletoe for centuries. Only in the 19^th century during the Christmas revival era did the mistletoe regain its place in the Christmas tradition.

Candles are very popular decorations during Christmas. They come in colors and designs depicting Christmas motifs from different ethnic cultures. The first people who used candles during Christmas were the Irish Celts. Traditionally, the Irish people placed a lighted candle in the window on Christmas eve to symbolize an invitation to Joseph and Mary to enter their home for shelter.

Feasting on Christmas eve may also have Celtic roots. Ancient Irish Celt would leave a kitchen table laden with bread, milk, raisins and other types of food after their usual dinner meal. In the old Celtic tradition it was suppose to provide a meal for Joseph and Mary or any traveler on Christmas Eve. Today, the Christmas eve dinner is a common custom all over the world.

In most countries, it’s quite usual for Christmas decorations to be pulled down at the end of the first week of January or on the onset of the second week of January. In old Irish tradition, the women would abandon work and daily duties to celebrate “Little Women’s Christmas” on January 6. During this day, Irish women would go out together and have fun all day long. If Christmas decors were taken down before Little Women’s Christmas, the Irish believed this would bring bad luck.

Little Women’s Christmas has been enjoying a revival in Irish communities in England, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Most restaurants and bars will be filled to the brim on January 6 with all kinds of women, mothers, aunts, sisters and best friends. January 6 is also recognized as the Celebration of Epiphany in other cultures and marks the end of the Christmas holiday.