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Irish Blessings for Thanksgiving
Grace before a meal
May this food restore our strength,
giving new energy to tired limbs,
and new thoughts to weary minds.
May this drink restore our souls,
giving new vision to dry spirits,
and new warmth to cold hearts.
And once nourished and refreshed,
May we give thanks to Him who
gives us all and makes us blest.
Adapted from an old Irish blessing
In This Irish Home
May these walls be filled with laughter,
may it reach from floor to rafter.
May the roof keep out the rain,
may sunshine warm each windowpane.
And may the door be open wide
to let the Good Lord’s love inside.
Blessing before a meal
Beannaigh sinne, a Dhia.
Beannaigh ár mbia agus ár ndeoch.
ós tú a cheannaigh sinn go daor
Agus a shaor sinn ó olc,
Mar a thug tú an chuid seo dúinn
Go dtuga tú dúinn ár gcuid den ghlóir shíoraí.
Bless us, O God.
Bless our food and our drink.
Since you redeemed us so dearly
and delivered us from evil,
as you gave us a share in this food
so may you give us a share in eternal life.
Irish Christmas Traditions
Ireland is a magical country, filled with old Irish traditions and folklore dating back many years. Christmas in Ireland is an especially magical time of year. Many Irish Christmas traditions have become part of the Christmas celebration of many nationalities and have made their way into main stream American Christmas customs.
In Ireland the Irish people say “Nollaig Shona Duit” pronounced NO-Lihg HO-nuh ghwich. This Irish Christmas greeting literally translates to Happy Christmas.
What is Irish Christmas plum pudding ?
One beloved Irish Christmas tradition is that of the Christmas plum pudding. The traditional Irish Christmas plum pudding has had humble beginnings. Plum pudding was originally a porridge flavored with scraps of leftover meat or fish, thickened with bread crumbs and bound together with eggs, fruit and spices. During the Tudor and Stuart period in England, dried prunes were added to the pudding mixture which became known as a plum porridge. Eventually becoming called plum pudding and often eaten with Brandy Butter Sauce.
Another very common Christmas custom in Ireland is the candle window. The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas Eve is still practiced today and has become an American Christmas tradition as well. The candle in the window has a number of purposes. One of its primary meanings is as a welcoming symbol to Mary and Joseph as they traveled looking for shelter. The candle also indicated a safe place for Catholic priests to perform mass during the penal times when Catholic masses were not allowed. Another part of the tradition is the candle should be lit by the youngest member of the family and should only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name Mary.
What is the Feast Day of St. Stephen and the Wren Boy Procession?
In Ireland celebrating the Feast Day of St. Stephen’s is usually accompanied with the Wren Boy Procession. Saint Stephen’s Day celebrated on December 26th, also know as the Day of the Wren is a national holiday in Ireland.
During Penal times there was a plot in a village against the local soldiers. The soldiers were surrounded and about to be ambushed when a flock of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened them in time to defend themselves. The plot failed and the wren became known as the “Devil’s Bird”.
On Saint Stephen’s Day a procession takes place where pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house and families dress up in old clothes with blackened faces. In olden days an actual wren bird was killed and placed on the pole. This custom has largely disappeared but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephen’s has survived and is a large part of the Irish Christmas celebration today.
The Feast of the Epiphany and Women’s Christmas
Last but not least a fabulous Irish Christmas tradition that hasn’t made its way to the states is called “Women’s Christmas”. In Ireland on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, is when traditionally the Irish finish celebrating Christmas. It is also known as “Nollaigh na mBean” in Irish or “Women’s Christmas“. Tradition has it that women get the day off and the men of the house get to do the housework, cooking and take down the Christmas decorations. Women meet up to go have a day out and treat themselves. Have you ever celebrated “Women’s Christmas“?
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Irish Christmas Traditions and Customs
A Brilliant Irish Jewelry Gift Giving Guide
Irish Christmas Traditions
Check out our Celtic Gift Guide Feature in Celtic Life Int. Magazine!
The December edition of Celtic Life International Magazine brings new meaning to the old adage you can only keep what you have when you give it away. Check out our cover story on the Gift of Giving during the holiday season, learn about Belfast’s ‘Black Santa’, enjoy feature articles on Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, Outlander’s Gillebride MacMillan, Scottish actress Mhairi Calvey, Stuart McLean & The Vinyl Cafe, and more! As well, our award-winning photo-journalist Tom Langlands explores the great Celtic nation of Galicia, and be sure to stock up on stocking-stuffers with our annual Celtic Jewelry Gift Guide! As always, we’re stuffed like an Irish Christmas Turkey with news, views, reviews, recipes, fashion, culture, history, heritage, tradition & more.
Featured Gift Guide Item:
The Celtic Mothers Knot …. This unassuming stylized holy trinity with a parent and child embrace is representative of the Madonna and child. Combined with a Celtic trinity knot it is a true testament to the enduring bond between a mother and child, faith and their Celtic heritage.
- Our Celtic Mothers Knot pendant measures approximately 20mm long.
- It is sterling silver and bright polished.
- The Celtic Motherhood Knot comes on a light weight 18 inch cable chain in sterling silver.
- Available in 14k yellow or white gold and a light weight gold chain. The gold pendant measures approximately 16mm. Special Order item please allow 1-2 weeks extra for delivery.
Exclusive to The Irish Jewelry Company!
Every jewelry gift from The Irish Jewelry Company comes gift wrapped in our signature style, a simple white glossy gift box sealed with a satin emerald green ribbon and our gold label. Included at no additional charge is an Irish Blessing, toast or story card. If this is a gift included at no additional charge is a card for the recipient, hand written for that extra personal touch.
This design and its images are copyrighted © by The Irish Jewelry Company™
Twelve Days of Irish Christmas
12 Days of Irish Christmas
- On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a tiny, white cottage by the sea.
- On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two woolly sheep.
- On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three Celtic rainbows.
- On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four cups of tea.
- On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five Claddagh rings.
- On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six turf fires burning.
- On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, seven salmon swimming.
- On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight fiddlers fiddling.
- On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine shamrocks growing.
- On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten Celtic dancers.
- On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven harps playing.
- On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, twelve Celtic angels.
Celebrate the holidays with our 12 Days of Irish Christmas Ornament Set imported from Ireland. This beautiful decorative gift 
set features symbols of Ireland such as the claddagh rings, shamrocks, fiddles and so much more.
- Our 12 Days of Irish Christmas Ornament Gift Set contains with 12 symbols of Ireland ornaments measuring approximately 3 inches round.
- The set comes elegantly packaged in a gift box designed to look like a book.
- The gift box measures approximately 9.25″ x 12″ x 3″.
- This ornament box is ideal for storage and makes a beautiful gift.
- Imported from Ireland.
November 1st …’All Saints Day’
‘All Saints Day’ is celebrated on November 1st. All Souls Day is November 2nd. During the eighth century the Catholic Church 
designated the first day of November as ‘All Saints Day’ (‘All Hallows’) – a day of commemoration for those Saints that did not have a specific day of remembrance. The night before was known as ‘All Hallows Eve’ which, over time, became known as Halloween.