The New Year is a time of celebration and tradition around the world, and in Ireland, it holds a special charm with its unique customs that blend folklore, history, and a touch of magic. Here’s a look at eight terrific good luck traditions that the Irish follow to ring in the New Year.
Opening the Back Door at Midnight: This is perhaps one of the most symbolic Irish traditions for New Year’s Eve. Just before midnight, the back door of the house is opened to release the old year and bid it farewell. This act is believed to usher out any bad luck or negative energy that might have accumulated over the past year.
Opening the Front Door for the New Year: Immediately after the back door is closed, the front door is opened. This gesture welcomes the New Year, inviting good fortune, health, and happiness. It’s a physical and symbolic way of letting the fresh, positive energy of a new beginning into the home.
First-Footing: This tradition involves the first person who steps into your home after midnight. Ideally, this should be a tall, dark-haired man, as this is considered very lucky. He should bring gifts like bread for the kitchen, a drink for the head of the household, and coal to ensure the fire never goes out, symbolizing warmth and sustenance for the year ahead.
Honoring the Deceased: In Ireland, there’s a tradition of remembering deceased family members during New Year’s Eve. An empty chair is often left at the dinner table, and a glass of wine is poured for the departed souls, inviting them to join the celebrations in spirit.
Wearing Something New: The Irish often wear a new item of clothing on New Year’s Day to bring good luck. It could be anything from a new pair of socks to a full outfit. The idea is that new clothes bring new luck.
The ‘Lucky Dip’: This involves filling a basket or container with small gifts or treats and letting each member of the family pick one at random. The surprise element is thought to bring luck and joy to the household.
These traditions, steeped in history and superstition, are a charming and integral part of Irish culture during the New Year. They reflect a deep sense of community, a respect for the past, and a hopeful look toward the future. As the Irish say, “Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit” – A prosperous New Year to you!
Among the passage tombs and megalithic structures that may be discovered at Bru Na Boinne, which is a holy site located in County Meath along the banks of the River Boyne, Newgrange is the most significant one. The monument is located on a small hill on a bend in the river approximately five miles inland from the ancient Norman city of Drogheda and a couple of miles upstream from the site of the Battle of the Boyne. Both of these locations are roughly the same distance from the mouth of the river.
Is it True that Newgrange Predates the Pyramids of Giza?
Yes. Since it was constructed circa 3,200 BC, Newgrange is older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and is also older than Stonehenge by around one thousand years. When we take into account that it was built during the Stone Age, when metal had not yet been found in Ireland, the building is an impressive accomplishment.
Who exactly constructed Newgrange remains a mystery to historians. There is no way that it was constructed by the Celts since the first known arrival of Celtic tribes to Ireland was not until about the year 500 B.C., some 2,700 years after the structure was constructed.
In the year 1699, the local landowner Charles Campbell gave instructions to his laborers to remove stones from the mound, and as a result, they found the entrance to the passage tomb while doing so.
Who was laid to rest at the Newgrange burial site?
It is stated that the Tuatha Dé Danann were the people that controlled Ireland back in ancient times. It is also said that they were the ones who constructed Newgrange as a burial site for their ruler, Dagda Mór, and his three sons. It is common practice to refer to one of his sons, whose name is Aonghus, as Aonghus of the Brugh.
Why was Newgrange built in the first place?
In spite of the fact that Newgrange was at one time thought of as a passage tomb, more recent research has shown that it was really a monument whose objective, which did involve the act of interring the dead, was far more important and widespread.
What kind of discoveries were made at Newgrange?
The majority of the bodies that were buried in those tombs had been cremated. Excavators working at Newgrange in the 1970s discovered the uncharred remains of a man, identified as NG10, is a niche inside the structure that was embellished with stones that had been intricately carved. DNA was successfully extracted by Cassidy and her co-authors from the petrous bone of NG10, which is a dense component of the inner ear.
Did Celts construct Newgrange?
When you take into account that it was built during the Stone Age, when metal wasn’t even known to exist in Ireland, you have an impressive accomplishment on your hands. About the people who erected Newgrange, little is known. There is no way that it was constructed by the Celts since the first evidence of Celtic tribes in Ireland does not appear until approximately 500 BC, which is some 2,700 years later!
Newgrange Contains a Decoration Based on a Celtic Spiral
The base of the mound is encircled by ninety-seven big rocks that are known as kerbstones. Many of these kerbstones are lavishly ornamented with sculptures that have been etched into the stones. Circles, spirals, arcs, chevrons, and lozenges are some of the more typical motifs that are employed. However, a broad variety of patterns are used. It is speculated that these recurring geometric patterns have some kind of symbolic meaning. Regardless of what significance these designs may have had in the past, they continue to serve as outstanding examples of Neolithic art in Ireland.
The kerbstone that serves as Newgrange’s entry is the one that has the most elaborate ornamentation. The pattern is centered on a massive triple helix that is encircled by many smaller spirals as well as lozenges. The carvings, according to the opinions of the specialists, were created utilizing two distinct methods. In the beginning, a sharp stone or flint was used to carve out the groove in a crude fashion. The pattern was then refined using a pebble, which was used to make it deeper and smoother. This is how intricate patterns were cut into the stone using this method.
The winter landscape of sun shines through the branches of frozen trees against the surface of the frozen lake. Winter solstice.
Newgrange’s Celebration of the Winter Solstice
Professor Micheal O’Kelly, an archaeology professor at University College Cork, oversaw the excavation of Newgrange from 1962 to 1975. He was in charge of the project during its whole.
Local residents would inform the professor in the early years of the dig that at some moments, even the deepest depths of the chamber would be illuminated by light from the rising sun. This was something that would happen at particular periods.
A hunch led the professor to visit the chamber on the morning of the winter solstice, which occurred on December 21, 1967. He was astounded to see the dawn light begin to enter the passageway and travel inwards, “lighting up everything as it came until the whole chamber – side recesses, floor, and roof six meters above the floor – were all obviously illuminated.”
At Newgrange, he was the first human to see the winter solstice since the site was first inhabited thousands of years ago.
The winter solstice heralded the beginning of a new year and represented fertility and rebirth for the people who constructed Newgrange. This event took place on the 21st of December.
Not only was Newgrange used as a cemetery, but it was also an important ritual location for the people who lived in the vicinity.
New Year’s Day in Ireland also is known as the Day of the Buttered Bread. It’s called “La na gCeapairi”, Gaelic for “Day of the Buttered Bread” or “Day of the Sandwich”.
Irish tradition says buttered bread placed outside the front door
symbolizes an absence of hunger in the household, and presumably for the year to come.
Barm Brack (a fruit bread) is baked especially to be smashed against the door by the man of the house, to banish hunger from the land in the new year.
It is also said to chase the bad luck out of a house and to invite good spirits in.
