How to Celebrate an Irish Christmas

Christmas in Ireland can be a very solemn and religious occasion or a day filled with fun - especially for the children. Take time to reflect about the meaning of the holiday as you reconnect with family and friends.

Things You'll Need

• Candles
• Christmas Puddings
• Guinness Beer
• Seed Cakes
• Beer Mugs

Instructions

1. Make a plum pudding early in December so it has time to mature before the Christmas feast. Some people also bake a seed cake for each person in the home.

2. Go caroling with family and friends to collect money for charity or to raise money for school trips.

3. Leave your Christmas stockings or pillowcases on the hearth or on the foot of the bed.

4. Expect Father Christmas to come bearing gifts, and leave a glass of Guinness for him to drink while he's there.

5. Place lighted candles on your windowsills on Christmas Eve as a way to guide Joseph and Mary as they look for shelter from the night. Use red candles and adorn them with holly sprigs to make them look festive.

6. Place bread and milk outside of your door to show that visitors are welcome.

7. Plan to attend Mass or midnight church services to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

8. Look for a crib representing Bethlehem to be placed in the church.

9. Prepare a Christmas meal of turkey, roast potatoes and brussels sprouts. Serve the Christmas pudding for dessert.

10. Celebrate St. Stephen's Day on December 26. On this day, which is similar to Boxing Day, people collect money and gifts from others.

11. Attend a local parade in which boys and young men dress up and wear masks to carry a pole with a holly bush attached. This symbolizes the tradition of capturing a wren in exchange for money.

Tips & Warnings

• Bake shamrocks for good luck to give to others as a special treat. They can be made from flour, butter, sugar and almonds. Use peppermint icing to turn them green.

• Ireland is a country with several cultural influences, so its diverse Christmas traditions cannot be generalized. The preceding steps represent a few local traditions that may or may not be appropriate for your personal celebration of Christmas.

Resources

• Letters From Santa
• Christmas Recipes