In ancient Ireland the first day of May held great significance for the Celtic people of the land. The was the day of the great Festival of Fire, or Bealtaine, and marked the beginning of summer on the Celtic calendar. Today let’s explore all that Bealtaine meant to our ancestors, and find out how this […]
Saint Brigid’s Links To Lisbon, Portugal
Did you know that Saint Brigid of Ireland is highly regarded and revered in Portugal? In the village of Lumiar, about six miles from Lisbon, and in the parish church of St. John the Baptist, is a chapel, dedicated to Ireland’s beloved Saint Brigid. Here a relic of the saint, her actual skull, has been […]
Wren Day – An Irish Tradition On Saint Stephen’s Day
The day after Christmas is known as Wren Day in Ireland. Dressing up in straw costumes and parading around town or the countryside on Saint Stephen’s Day, is part of our ancient Irish heritage, especially in rural parts of the country. When I was growing up in Ireland my father would always recite a […]
The Celtic Festival Of Samhain
Samhain is an ancient Celtic Feast and seasonal festival that dates back to pre-Christian times in Ireland, and other Celtic nations like Scotland and Wales. In modern times, people all over the world celebrate Halloween, but very few are aware of its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain. Samhain – The Celtic New […]
Origins Of The Jack O’Lantern
Did you know that our Halloween Jack O’Lanterns have Irish origins? These beloved symbols of Halloween are carved throughout the United States and Canada each and every year, but their roots are firmly Irish. Did you know this annual Halloween tradition of carving out pumpkins or rutabagas to create light-up lanterns was a tradition brought […]
Irish Tweed – Characteristics, History, and Tradition
In today’s post we’ll unravel the history of Irish tweed, traditional woolen fabric woven in County Donegal. The skillful weavers of Donegal have been producing tweed for centuries using local wool and natural dyes to create distinctive caps, suits and vests. Today I’m delighted to introduce you to the history and traditions behind tweed in […]
Cnoc na dTobar Pilgrim’s Path in County Kerry
Cnoc na dTobar, a mountain on the Ring of Kerry is one of Ireland’s ancient sacred sites. To this very day pilgrims travel to this mountain to visit the holy well at its base, and to climb its slopes in contemplation. Barb, a reader from Boston, recently returned from Ireland and on her trip she […]
What Is A Bastible?
Does anyone remember an Irish bastible? My granny could cook the most amazing meals using a cast iron bastible suspended over an open fire. She even cooked bread in a bastible, without the aid of a fancy thermometer or convection fan oven. Yes! My granny baked the most delicious loaves of Irish soda bread, […]
Why Celebrating New Year In January Is A Relatively New Custom In Ireland
Did you know that marking the beginning of each new year on January 1st is a relatively new custom in Ireland? Believe it or not, this practice is less than 300 years old. Until recent years New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations were very subdued in Ireland. The Irish national folklore archive does […]
A Candle In The Window – An Irish Christmas Tradition
Lighting a candle in the window is a Christmas Eve memory I cherish from my Irish childhood. Every Christmas Eve we placed a single red candle in the window. My mother always told me we were lighting the way for Mary and Joseph on their way to find the stable in Bethlehem. Our family candle […]
