Christmas Eve in Ireland.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3406, 23 December 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

Christmas Eve in Ireland.

In “The Tablet” a writer records a conversation with an aged Irishman in a London alley. The following extract from it bears upon an interesting custom

“ ‘Just a week till Christmas!’ I said, after a pause. “ ‘Ay,’ replied' he, rousing himself, ‘the time does be slippin’ by. Yet I cud fancy as ’twas but yesternight that we kep’ last Christmas Eve. if is! I mind me, too, how the wind did be rough—much like ’tis to-night—an’ the heavy sleet did be blowin’ in at the open dure.’ “ ‘Why did you have the door open?’ I asked. 1

“ ‘Sure,’ he said, hastil, an’ it it shut ye’d have it! Why, ’twas Christmas Eve, as I’m after tellin’. ye!’ “I suppose I looked perplexed. Anyhow, liis tone changed to one of pitying inquiry. ‘Be the powers, an’ p’rhaps ye don’t know how the Irish keeps Christmas in the- Court ?’

“ ‘Tell me,’ I said. “ ‘Well,’ he began, as he settled himself in the old ragged chair, ‘you must know how the Lord o’ the world come down from heaven on Christmas night. An’ He had nowhere to go an’ ne’er _ a friend in the wide .world. So His Blessed Mother an’ the holy St Joseph had to tramp the streets for to find a lodgin’. They was homeless, God help ’em. An’ from dure they wirit, askin’ for a night’s shelter, an’ no one wudn’t let ’em in. ’Twas a quare thing, so it was. But so twas true! Ivery dure was shut agin Him that winter’s night.’ Then in tones of wonder the old man murmured‘Ter think o’ the Lord Himself bein’ homeless, same as/any o’ us. Faix, if the Irish had Keen theer, ’twasn’t roam-ino-.the streets He’d be. Howsomever,’ he continued, ‘theer He was, without word or welcome that bitter Christmas night.’ ’Tis all past and gone tins many a vear,’ he said, after a .pause!, ’an’f’tisn’t likely as the Lord ’ll be cornin’ agin. But no sooner does the bells begin a-ringin’ for the Christmas than all the Irish in the alley sets open their doors, and lights up all the candles they has, ’Tis to show the Lord as He’s welcome. Yis ’ said he, ’tis a great sight in the alley on Christmas Eve, wid the tenements lit up, an’ all the folks a-settin theer an’ waitin’, lest the Lord should come agin.’ ”