Irish Folklore surrounding Xmas
Credit : www.irishcultureandcustoms.com
Since it’s the holiday season and all , and some of my posts people find interesting, I decided to gather up some Folklore surrounding Xmas in Ireland.
Hope you USMERS will enjoy
In the old days, people believed that animals celebrated the arrival of Christ and that the cows in the cattle-sheds and the deer in the forests went down on their knees at midnight. Others believed that animals were able to speak like humans on Christmas Eve = but it was bad luck to try and listen in!
The placing of a lighted candle in the window of a house on Christmas Eve is still practised today. Primarily it was, and still is, a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they travelled looking for shelter. The candle should be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name “Mary”. To have no light meant that you shared the guilt of the innkeepers at Bethlehem who said, “No Room”!
It is commonly held in Ireland that the gates of Heaven open at midnight and those who die would go straight in. it was also believed that no prayer would go unanswered on this most holy of night.
....xx <3 Christmas blessings & a happy healthy & prosperous New Year!....T/C 
64747 Category:(Ancient Beliefs) Created:(12/24/2013 4:35:00 PM)