How to Celebrate an Irish Christmas in America

Christmas in Ireland lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which is referred to as Little Christmas. Ireland's Christmas is more religious than a time of fun. For those Americans with Irish heritage, you can teach your children a little about their ancestors in Ireland.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Red Candles and Holly
• A Seed Cake
• Plum Pudding
• Bread and Milk
• A (fake) wren on a stick
• Christmas Sacks
• Mince Pie
• A Bottle of Guinness

1. Red Candle in the Window Lighted candles are placed in windows on Christmas Eve, as a guide that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. The candles are usually red in color, and decorated with sprigs of holly.
2. Plum Pudding Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the house. They also make three puddings, one for each day of the Epiphany such as Christmas, New Year's Day and the Twelfth Night.
3. Bread and Milk After the Christmas evening meal, bread and milk are left out and the door unlatched as a symbol of hospitality.
4. St. Stephen St Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas, is almost as important, with football matches and meetings going on.
5. A Wren Boy For children, the Wren Boys Procession is their big event. Boys go from door to door with a fake wren on a stick, singing, with violins, accordions, harmonicas and horns to accompany them. The reason for the ceremony is to ask for money 'for the starving wren', that is, for their own pockets.
6. Christmas Sacks Children often put out Christmas sacks instead of stockings.
7. Mince Pies It is tradition to leave mince pies and a bottle of Guinness out as a snack for Santa.

Tips & Warnings

• Google some of these words so that you and your children may learn more about them: Epiphany; St. Stephens; St. Nicholas; Wren Boys
• Celebrate your Celtic Christmas and have fun!
• Nowadays, to be sensitive to not allowing Santa to 'drink and drive', people leave out milk with the mince pie!