It’s almost that time of year again, when the city centre is crowded with lots of extra shoppers. They all seem to be seeking for that elusive extra bargain.

Many main thoroughfares are illuminated and brightly lit up with fairy lights, and store windows are choc-a-bloc with the latest toys. Children are goggle-eyed as they hold on to their parents’ hands and admire the lavish displays.

Long before fairy lights ever adorned trees in an Irish house, the task of decorating the interior of the home would fall to the children. In many rural areas, while on their way to and from school, they would make note of where the best holly and ivy grew. It would then be harvested on Christmas Eve, and used in the making of decorations.

Loose holly ,ivy and laurel leaves would be placed on lengths of string along the mantelpiece. Scraps of coloured paper, collected over preceding months, would be shaped into patterns, and placed around the walls, to add an air of gaiety to the home.

Many of the Christmas customs we now observe are of English and German origin. It was Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, who first introduced us to some of the delights that we enjoy today.

From him, we got the tree, plum puddings and mince pies. It’s also highly probable an American bird, the turkey, came from the same source. Before them we Irish were quite content, to eat ham, geese, mutton, chicken and beef.

Charles Dickens, the famous 19th century writer, was called, ‘The man who invented Christmas parties’. This may have come about from his story ‘A Christmas Carol’, and his collection of ‘Christmas Stories’. In all of them, family gatherings played an important part.

We Irish have never been great at overeating or feasting. In 1171, Henry II visited Dublin, shortly after he had been excommunicated by the Pope, for his part in the murder of Thomas A-Beckett. In College Green, outside the walls of the Castle, he had a wattle castle built for him in the Irish fashion.

Many prominent chieftains were present at one feast and were disgusted at the variety of the food served. These included swans, cranes and pheasant, that they felt would never have been considered fit for an Irish table. But then as the French say, if it moves, you can eat it.

The mistletoe may have been sacred to the ancient druids, but the tradition of kissing under it is fairly recent. Up to a hundred years or so ago, it was known in only a few places, Limerick, Wicklow and Armagh. Some sources say that it originated in Armagh. Here, a young unattached lady would hang a sprig over the door. She would then steal kisses from unsuspecting young men of her fancy, who would then be custom bound to buy her a present. Perhaps it’s not so surprising that it became popular

Leaving a light shining in the window is recent also. Usually a door would be left open as well. This was to signify to the Holy Travellers making their way to Bethlehem, that there was room for them where the light was. It was a touching gesture, and it spread quickly throughout the land.

George Bernard Shaw hated this time of the year. He said: “We must be drunken and gluttonous because it’s Christmas. We must be insincerely generous; we must buy things that nobody wants, and give them to people we don’t like; we must go to absurd entertainments, that make even our little children satirical; we must writhe under venal officiousness from legions of freebooters; all because it’s Christmas”.

All he was short of saying was Ebeneezer Scrooge’s immortal word, “Humbug!”.

Yet somewhere amid all the commercialism, this time of year, there is one indisputable fact. We are celebrating the birth, of a very important child in a stable in Bethlehem, whose birth was to change the world forever.

That is what the true and real message of Christmas should be. Peace and goodwill to all men, whatever their creed or colour. Wherever you go may your God go with you. May you all have a happy and peaceful Christmas.

The management and staff of Ringsend and District Community Centre wish to express their condolences to Barbara and the rest of the Joyce family on the recent and sad bereavement of their father, Eugene Joyce.

THE QUIET MAN
Unnoticed by many
I’d seen him ramble thru’ the town,
His silhouette blending against the reddened brick
The quiet man of Irishtown.
I’ve seen him strolling round the green
Or reading, seated down
I felt his thoughts belonged elsewhere
The quiet man of Irishtown.
Alas, Gene Joyce has left us
His legacy renowned
His journey led him to his love,
The quiet man of Irishtown.

Paddy Healy 1916-2000

A quiet man has gone from us. On Thursday, 7th. December, Paddy Healy of Newgrove Avenue died suddenly. He was known to many in the neighbourhood as a man who walked his dog on Sandymount Strand.

Fr. Brian Power , speaking at Paddy’s funeral,said how little people in Sandymount knew of Paddy’s many talents. Archaeology, local history, draughtmanship, teaching photography were some of the crafts he made his own, bringing to all of them an exquisite meticulousness.

He was a member of many learned societies and a few weeks ago , the Old Dublin Society were pleased to make him a life member. Nearly fifty years ago, he was the first winner of the Society’s Medal for his paper entitled ‘The Valley of Glennasmole’.

To his sister Margaret and his brother Peter ,we send our condolences.
Ni bhfheicimid a leitheid aris.