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31st December 2011

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Irish New Year!  The Celtic priests go into the woods on New Year’s Eve to gather bunches of mistletoe which they handed out to people to protect them from any harm. Also bonfires were lit to drive away evil forces. They also believed that it was safer to stay indoors as fairies were abroad on New Year’s Eve. In Ireland the girls would go to bed with sprigs of mistletoe, or holly and ivy leaves under their pillows so they would go to bed dreaming of their future husbands. They might also chant: “Oh, ivy green and holly red, Tell me, tell me whom I shall wed!” In Ireland in the west the direction of the wind blowing at New Year would indicate the trend of politics in the coming year. If it blew from the west it would flourish, if from the east the English would have upper hand. Also on New Year’s Eve if they ate a very large supper they would have plenty of food for the coming year. One custom that was practiced on New Year’s Eve was to take a large loaf of Christmas bread or cake outside the house and hammer it against the closed doors and windows, this was done so as to drive out any misfortune and let happiness in.  Most often this was celebrated on Samhain, not on the first of January.  My wish for you is to celebrate what you can, when you can.  Slainte’! 

Irish New Year!  The Celtic priests go into the woods on New Year’s Eve to gather bunches of mistletoe which they handed out to people to protect them from any harm. Also bonfires were lit to drive away evil forces. They also believed that it was safer to stay indoors as fairies were abroad on New Year’s Eve.

In Ireland the girls would go to bed with sprigs of mistletoe, or holly and ivy leaves under their pillows so they would go to bed dreaming of their future husbands. They might also chant:

“Oh, ivy green and holly red,
Tell me, tell me whom I shall wed!”

In Ireland in the west the direction of the wind blowing at New Year would indicate the trend of politics in the coming year. If it blew from the west it would flourish, if from the east the English would have upper hand.

Also on New Year’s Eve if they ate a very large supper they would have plenty of food for the coming year.

One custom that was practiced on New Year’s Eve was to take a large loaf of Christmas bread or cake outside the house and hammer it against the closed doors and windows, this was done so as to drive out any misfortune and let happiness in.  Most often this was celebrated on Samhain, not on the first of January.  My wish for you is to celebrate what you can, when you can.  Slainte’! 

Tagged: IrishCelticNew YearPaganDruidFairieHolly

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