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♫ Santa dedicates this to the many different cultural traditions of Christmas. (This is part of a series of videos that inform children about Christmas traditions and cultural differences in the way this holiday is celebrated around the world.) No copy infraction intended on my videos. Thanks for watching!

Traditions Of The Country:

In some areas, due to English influence, it is Father Christmas who the children wait for to fill their stockings on Christmas Eve. In other areas of Ireland, due to western influences, you will find Santa Claus instead. Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being suppressed and it is perhaps because of that they have survived into modern times.

The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas eve is still practiced today. It has a number of purposes but primarily it was an symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter. It also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed. A further element of the tradition is that the candle should be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name 'Mary'.

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table is again set and on it are placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house is left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveler, could benefit of the welcome.

The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly is one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gives the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings. All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas, January 6th, and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.

The Gaelic greeting for 'Merry Christmas' is 'Nollaig Shona Duit', which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'.

.•:*¨ Wishing You A Merry Christmas¨*:•.