CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND FREE DUBLIN EVENTS
There are some odd, fun, quirky and laudable Christmas traditions and customs practised around the world. Poland, Norway, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii, for instance, possess traditions that are unusual and deserve attention and mention. Also warranting comment are free Dublin Christmas events and an Irish Christmas custom--for women only.
The customs mentioned here include masked children going door to door asking for treats (nice one, kids, stretch out Halloween ) ;a Christmas lunch tradition consisting of Kentucky fried chicken and cream sponge cake(hmmm …yes), plus an established custom facilitating Christmas romance. Makes you wonder if they ever heard of Valentine’s Day. Surprisingly, one country favours beetroot soup as a Christmas dish (yeah, I know, that’s what I thought). Our own country indulges in a ‘Women’s Christmas’ tradition, meaning menfolk do everything for the day. My missus told me about that one. Santa choosing outlandish modes of transport and dress are my favourite, foreign customs. Just picture the wonderful sight of a speedo-attired Santa delivering presents on jet skis, or a sunglass –wearing, T-shirt clad Santa in a canoe pulled by dolphins.
DUBLIN CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
You plonk down onto the settee. You breathe heavily as perspiration (turkey sweats) dribbles down your face. Like a gorged lion after a kill on the Serengeti Plains, you stretch out your purring, contented stomach. You loosen your shirt and trouser belt- buckle (if you haven’t already changed into your tracksuit). You feel around the settee for the TV remote. You soon fall asleep, snoring. Well, that’s just one Christmas tradition, in most Dublin households, after Christmas dinner. Or is it just my house?
IRISH CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as ‘Little Christmas’, Twelfth Night’ and ‘Nollaigh na mBan’ (Women’s Christmas) is traditionally the last day of Christmas celebrations in Ireland. The ‘Nollaigh na mBan’ custom ensures women abstain from all forms of work, meet other women for social activities and generally pamper themselves for the day. Men do all necessary housework, chores and cooking on January sixth’s ‘Nollaigh na mBan’. Wasn’t that sweet of Her Indoors to unearth that one for me?
DUBLIN: FREE CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Phoenix Park Visitor Centre is worth a visit to view the Live Crib. From the 28th November to 20th December, Christmas at Phoenix Park will include Choirs on Sunday, Storytelling and Woodturning Demos. For more details of these free events, please click HERE.
LIVELINE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
The Liveline Christmas Special will be open to the public and will be broadcast live from 9am to 11 am on Christmas Eve, outside The Bailey Pub on Duke Street. Joe Duffy will be joined by a galaxy of stars, and according to RTE/RADIO/LIVELINE, “If you are around town please come and join us however if you cannot make it in, listen in on RTÉ Radio 1 on Christmas eve morning from 9am.”
This very popular Christmas event never fails to deliver and lots of famous faces usually turn up.
CITY OF DUBLIN WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION FESTIVAL, 21 DECEMBER 2016
Parade assembles at 7pm and starts at 7.10pm, moving from DIT Grangegorman Campus to Smithfield Square and culminates in the Winter Solstice Fire Ceremony.
“Come and gather with us on the darkest day, step into the warmth of the indoor festival for storytelling, poetry recitals, a céilí, music, craft making and a dedicated, supervised children’s play area plus plenty of warm food, drinks and seasonal gifts to buy. Meet with The Sun and Snow Princesses, place your withies in the flame, join us in the colourful drum led parade to Smithfield Square and be there as we raise our fire to the world in a roaring climactic moment. Bring warm, colourful clothes to wear for the parade. Red and yellow colours are preferable. Please also feel free to carry you own battery operated lanterns, or a drum or rattle if you have one. Come and welcome the return of the light on this festive and magical night for family and friends to enjoy.”
Yes, this promises to be an exciting family evening. For more information see Here.
CHRISTMAS AT FARMLEIGH ,17TH and 18TH OF DECEMBER 10am – 5:00pm
“There is plenty here for all the family to enjoy, from Horse & Carriage Rides to Christmas Storytelling sesssions. Experience the Christmas magic of the themed courtyard each weekend from 10am-5pm. Mystery guests & Surprise Performances will enchant & entertain all of the family. Farmleigh is the ideal place to enter into the festive spirit. All of the events listed are free.”
I’ll put this one in my diary. There’s great Christmas fun which includes Christmas Puppet Shows ;Custard Pie Company presenting ‘Christmas Crackers’ with Conor Lambert; Storytelling for Children with Niall De Burca; Christmas Carol Singing with Gloria; Festive Barbershop Melodies with The Mellowchords, to name some. You’ll find all the free family fun,craic and details Here.
MANSION HOUSE LIVE ANIMAL CRIB
“The Crib has been a joint venture between Dublin City Council and the Irish Farmers’ Association since 1995. The Crib is constructed by Dublin City Council’s Housing Maintenance Section and is a life size stable containing a sheep, donkey and goat which are provided and cared for by the Irish Farmer’s Association. The animals are brought in each morning and returned to a farm on the outskirts of the city each evening. The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also advises with regards to the care of the animals.”
The Crib will be open to the public from Tuesday 6th December until Christmas Eve from 11am to 5pm daily (Christmas Eve 11am to 1pm)
Entrance to the crib is free but donations are welcome to the Mansion House Fuel Fund.
Please click Here for more information.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN POLAND
Fish is the main constituent of a Polish, traditional Christmas meal, according to my local Polish barber. Here they prefer fried carp and a beetroot soup called Borcht. The soup is usually accompanied by ravioli or uszka as the Polish say. This Christmas Eve vigil (known as Wigilia) supper, begins after the early evening First Star is spotted in the sky. Then everybody must share the Christmas wafer (Oplatki) before the supper can commence. The Christmas Eve Wigilia (essentially a black fast) is the most important aspect of Christmas time in Poland.
One admirable characteristic I found with Polish people is their wonderful hospitality. At Christmas, this national trait is best demonstrated when an extra seat is placed at the supper table. Homeless Polish people have borne testimony to this custom. This is a reminder that Mary and Joseph sought shelter. Commendable.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN JAPAN
Although Christmas day is not a public holiday in Japan (Shinto and Buddhism are the predominant religions) Christmas time is recognised and celebrated. One could be forgiven for thinking the Japanese people mistake Christmas Eve for St. Valentine’s Day, because romantic revelations and starry-eyed rendezvous are conducted on Christmas Eve, and the occasion is considered special, romantically. For example, a girl might disclose her passionate intentions towards a boy, or a boy might ask for a girl’s hand in marriage. Exchanging of romantic gifts, on Christmas Eve, is also a common custom in the Land Of The Rising Sun.
Traditional Christmas food in Japan is Western but not the usual fare. Christmas cake and Christmas chicken are the favourites. And it’s not just any old chicken--Kentucky Fried Chicken is the customary and most popular Christmas meal for Japanese folks. Also, the Japanese Christmas cake consists of a large, scrumptious sponge showered with cream and covered in strawberries (now you’re sucking diesel). Yes, I do like their style.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN HAWAII
Hawaii at Christmas is a fun place to be. Colourful parades and concerts are just two traditions enjoyed by the Hawaiian populace. Also, the beach becomes the focus of attention at Christmas, because Santa Claus (Kanakaloka in Hawaiian) makes a spectacular appearance in a red canoe pulled by two dolphins. Hawaiian children have their own special, Christmas carol called Here Comes Santa in a Red Canoe. And there’s no sweat-inducing, Santa costume drowning this Kanakaloka. The hot weather ensures this Santa arrives complete with flowery shirt, sunglasses and sandals. Cool.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN NEW ZEALAND
Another cool, fun place to spend Christmas is New Zealand. From the middle of November, in some regions of New Zealand, Christmassy parades are long-held, popular traditions. A beach barbeque is how some Kiwis celebrate Christmas lunch. Ham, venison and shrimps are the order of the day. Like Hawaii, the New Zealand Santa Claus (perhaps Sandy Claus would be a more appropriate moniker) is a cool, beach dude. This Santa in speedos splashes to shore on an aquatic motorbike (probably a Holly Davidson) and delivers Christmas presents to the Kiwi children. Great craic.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN NORWAY
In Norway, during Christmas period, they have a Halloween type tradition known as Julebukk, whereby masked children go from door to door asking for treats; its origins date back to an era when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat.
Another great Norwegian tradition involves Trafalgar Square, London. In appreciation of the assistance rendered to the Scandinavians by Great Britain during World War Two, the Norwegian people donate a huge Christmas tree, every year, for the UK citizens to enjoy. Nice.
Despite the cultural diversity of some countries’ traditional Christmas habits, I do like the variety. Of course, Dublin is delightful at Christmas or anytime, but sitting on a beach on a hot Christmas day, eating hamburgers or Kentucky fried chicken, watching a jet skiing Sandy Claus delivering toys, puts turkey and ham and a snooze on the sofa facing the telly, in the halfpenny place.
There are lots of free Christmas events, in Dublin, this festive season. They can be found on this website, as we just mentioned a few here.
Have a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Tomas O'hArgadain
.