There are many Christmas traditions that are particular to one or more of the Celtic regions. Obviously, none of them goes back beyond the Christian period, which we can say started in the Celtic regions around the fourth century. It is likely that, before Christianity, and indeed during its earliest period, the Celtic regions celebrated midwinter in various ways, and some of those celebrations have probably been absorbed into Christian traditions.
The practice of placing a ring of holly on a front door may have started in Ireland. Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time in Ireland and gave everyone, even those less well-off, a free, colourful resource with which to decorate their homes. Holly was used in early Irish monasteries to make ink, as evidenced by the poem ‘Is scíth mo chrob ón scríbainn’ (‘My fist is tired from writing’), which refers to ‘ink of the green-skinned holly’.
In Scotland, a Christmas wreath would traditionally include thistles, Scots pine and hawthorn berries together with holly. These are all plants which provide colour and scent in winter and would brighten up a home.
For old-fashioned Cornish folk, Christmas is likely to be celebrated with a ‘star-gazey pie’, which is filled with fish – such as pilchards – whose heads stick up through the pastry. This is closely linked to the legend of Tom Bawcock, a fisherman of Mousehole. The legend tells how severe storms kept the fishing fleet in the harbour until the village was starving. Finally, on 23 December, Tom Bawcock took his boat out into the storm, to seek fish to feed the village children. Villagers placed candles in their windows in the faint hope that he might see them from the sea and be guided home. He did, indeed, return, with a laden boat, and the village feasted – on star-gazey pie and other treats. 23 December is now known as Tom Bawcock’s Eve, and Cornish villagers still leave candles in their windows that night.
In Ireland, too, candles are left in windows, but there it is on Christmas Eve, to signal a welcome to Mary and Joseph who might be out looking for shelter for the baby Jesus to be born. The Irish have another charming tradition along similar lines. On Christmas Eve, after the evening meal is eaten and the kitchen tidied, the table is reset with a fresh loaf of bread and a jug of milk, in case Mary and Joseph pass by and need sustenance. In the old days, the door would even be left unlocked for them, but it’s unlikely that still happens, at least in the city!
The Irish also lay claim to what may be the oldest extant Christmas Carol. ‘The Wexford Carol’ is thought to date from the twelfth century. It is thought that the song was passed on orally until it was written down by the organist of Enniscorthy Cathedral, William Grattan Flood, in the nineteenth century.
Scottish Gaelic has a Christmas Carol that has a special connection to Australia. ‘Tàladh Chrìosda’ (‘Christ’s Lullaby’) is set to a traditional melody from the Hebrides. The words were written by a Catholic priest, Father Ranald Rankin, and given by him to the children of his congregation when he left for Australia in 1855. The hymn is sung at midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the predominantly Catholic islands of Barra, South Uist and Eriskay.
In the Presbyterian areas of Scotland, Christmas was traditionally not much celebrated. In fact, in 1640 it was made illegal to celebrate Christmas in Scotland. It wasn’t even a public holiday until 1958! This probably accounts for the relative importance of Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) in Scotland to this day.
Ever wondered how to wish someone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year in a Celtic Language? Wonder no more!
Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa (Manx)
Nollaig Chridheil dhut agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr (Scottish Gaelic)
Nollaig Shona duit agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise (Irish)
Nedeleg Laouen na Bloavezh Mat (Breton)
Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Welsh)
Nadelik Lowen ha Bledhen Nowyth Da (Cornish)
