Irish Christmas
For children, the
Wren Boys Procession is their big event. Boys go from door to door with a fake wren on a stick, singing, with
violins, accordions, harmonicas and horns to accompany them. The reason for the ceremony is to ask for money 'for
the starving wren', that is, for their own pockets. Children often put out Christmas sacks instead of stockings. It is
tradition to leave mince pies and a bottle of Guinness out as a snack for Santa.
"Nollaig Shona Dhuit" (NoLik Suna Ditch) means "Merry Christmas" in Irish Gaelic.
"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man's hat. If you haven't got a penny, a
ha'penny will do. If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you!"
Cleaning for Christmas:
The time leading up to Christmas is busy in Ireland. Women clean the inside, polish the floors, the silver, the
furniture, every nook and cranny is "made presentable." The men clean and whitewash outbuildings and yard
annaabi.ee 
