School: Killough (roll number 9540)
- Location:
- Killulagh, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Mary Lynch
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0726, Page 284
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- XML “Christmas Eve Customs”
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- There are many customs connected with Christmas Eve The usual customs are to clean the house and decorate it with holly and ivy.These branches of holly and ivy are placed in each window and be-hind each picture. Its seldom we see a house not decorated with holly and ivy in this locality. Christmas Eve is a very joyful time and especially with the young children as they all looked forward to the coming of Santa Claus.On Christmas Eve the little children hang their stockings by the chimney and on the foot of the bed. There is a great rush in the morning to see what toys they have got. It is said no ainmal sleeps on this night except the serpent. The local people say that the ass goes down on his knees at twelve o'clock on Christmas Eve.Here is an old Irish saying "Christmas comes but once a year when it comes it brings good cheer," when it goes it leave us here, what will we done for the rest of the year. Each person remembers his friends at Christmas, and if they can't come home, they send Christmas cards with their greetings.
- Collector
- Nellie Monaghan
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Martinstown, Co. Westmeath
