Christmas Eve is Here at Last!

My dear readers,

To put you in the mood for a wonderful upcoming Christmas season, I have included in this week's blog a few tidbits of the traditions of Christmas from the Oulde Irish Island I wrote about in my book, "An Irish Christmas and the Storyteller."

---------

Welcome to a small village in Ireland close to the beginning of the 20th Century and the country people who lived there. The folk there trusted in the bounty of the rich brown earth to supply them with food and shelter and provisions as needed. Each loyal family worked side by side and they had a generous nature and warm companions in their familiar country folk. They shared with neighbors, very special care for the less fortunate on special days of the calendar. There was St. Bridget's Day and St. Patrick's Day and May Day and All Saints Day and more, but let me tell you about Christmas in Old Ireland. Many days of exciting plans and traditions were on the commons calendars of the Irish folk, there in the green meadows and blue hills in the southwest of the land. But the best holiday they truly celebrated in earnest was in December when the crops were in and the larger animals were sheltered from the cold. Christmas was a time of job. Neighbors were provided whatever needs that they could not make for themselves. Young ones scoured the woods for greenery to decorate their cottage homes. Mams were baking and secreting hearty, tasty delights. Perhaps a bit of romance could grow around the fireside.

But the Mam of the house would create delightful creations from her little stone kitchen. Spiced beef, pounded and marinated in cloves and black stout beer, left to cure for many a day. Scrumptious Christmas cakes and puddings. Bairin Breac (barm brack), a yeasty nut loaf of dark rich cake filled with raisins and candied fruit. Other traditions included the gift baskets of food for the misfortunate with holiday treats and tasties all snuggled inside. A large grand Christmas candle set into sand and standing near the window welcoming the Christmas Child

and other weary travelers into the warm cozy surroundings. Christmas Eve is here at last! And then came the Seanchaí, the Storyteller.

Nollaig Shona Duit, my dear readers. Merry Christmas & a Bliain Shona!

--------------

To read more of the Irish Christmas traditions, order my book, "An Irish Christmas and the Storyteller" by Helen Walsh Folsom.

Over the next several weeks, I will be publishing, with the aid of my daughter, Bettse Folsom, a series of answer & questions & snippets about Ireland that many people have asked me during events where I have attended. If you have a question, please contact me by email and I will be happy to address it.

Thank you for reading my blog!