Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1918-12-21
How Ireland Observes
Feast of Christmas

An, Mary asthorei this isn't like
the Christmas eve We used to have
in IrelandI" Mrs. Casey was fixing
up her pantry when she dropped
this remark, addressing her daugh-
ter.
Tell me, mother, how you pre-
pared for and celebrated Christmas
there in the old days. l fancy it
was different from the manner in
which we do it here"
Eyes, Mary" resumed Mrs. Casey,
eff / were there now l would be
decorating the dresser with holly,
and ivy and laurel, instead of the
way I am fixing up this with a
daub OF yellow paper. And then of
course we young girls had to have
the mistlctoe handy if the occasion
should call for its use. We had no
chandeliers in the houses in the part
of Ireland / came from, but we
could always substitute one. Oh, it
makes me sad to think of it," and
Mrs. Casey paused in meditation.
GO on, mother! Surely you do
not intend to stop so soon"
"Ah, ] will go on, ashore! In
the old days all the members of a
family were busy as busy could be
on Christmas eve. Some went to
the woods for holly and laurel to
use in the house decorations; some
were preparing the Christmas log
for dts place in the hearth, while the
father and mother were busy with
the list of wants and in trying to
make the cost of purchases tally
with the contekts of the purse.
Early in the forenoon am
In 81 tssfx
grandmother-Go6 be good to her!
would get into the jaunting car
with the bill of fare and the money
start for town. In the evening
after her return, the outside work
being done, the family congregated
to contemplate the decorations and
the contents of mothers basket. And
indeed we were usually delighted
with our surroundings. The house !
vas literally hidden in evergreens, |
both within and without. The ham |
per- had been unpacked and its !,
contents set before us. Mother was |
busy putting up gifts for our poorer
neighbors. BY and by, one of us
must take some butter here, a |
chicken there and goose to
third, the distribution being made
according to the needs of the fam
ly This is custom with our peo-
pie that has come down the ages,
and is but a reflection of the divine
Behold! l bring you It'd
ngs of great JOY !
"And ahl would not a glimpse of
hose Irish Christmas firesides in
lite anyone to happiness and good
leeds! There the oak log, that
lad been carefully laid aside for
was cracking and blazing
n keeping with its cheerful sur
the ovens were kept busy
With the cakes and pastries for the
morrow; the kettle was singing a
amily song prophetic of some good
,heer before retiring.
GAS soon as our household. duties
.eased the Christmas candles were
lighted and all knelt about and said
he Rosary. This being over, we
hurried to bed to seek slumber for
/ few hours. The one on whom
he 'drowsy god had the least eff
ect was selected to sit up and
watch for the morning-watch
'ather for the Ginning of the church
,ells That signaled the early mass.
Christmas mass in a country
hapel before dawn is picturesquely
beautiful. The brilliancy of the altar
las a heavenly aspect from the
limly lighted aisles and galleries.
1ere and there you may see some
and pious attendant hold
ng lighted candle, by the light
# which he reads his prayerbook,
or on this day he would not forego
he sacred privilege for a world. |
You look out, through the unstained
windows, and see the stars glittering
n the heavens-those stars that
lighted the night of the Savior's
firth in the stable at Bethlehem. [
"And just to think that for more
han a thousand years-yes, and
With another half thousand added
n to tour people have thus
melt and prayed at this Christmas '
lass celebrated in the darkness. If c
yer you go to Ireland you can see t
n almost every hill some ruin of G
n old church OF abbey of the an @
lent days. Now they are black c
ned, and some mere mounds with
roken columns peeping up. But in &
he long ago our ancestors used to c
ather in them, just as they did c
{ the time / am telling Of. They t
i'd that before the English came b
nd they are doing it yet, and ! +
mink they always will. {
From all Joints throng wor- g
hdpers to this mass. Over the 0
elds, the highways, in car and o
foot they come. It is this mass "
lat breathes all the Significance of p
he great festival, and the partici- Il
ants feel its inspiration and sane a
tY 1t ds over as the dawn Is u