Christmas, as we know it is a season of happiness and mirth. A family that is scattered always tries to re-unite at "Yuletide" as it is called in America.

The native Irish people were suppressed by tyrants, and after the rent had been paid, not much money remained out of their small earnings. They were poor. Yet they did not look forward to Christmas with less happiness. Indeed, in reality, Christmas was a greater feast then than it is now. It was looked forward to with great joy and reverence. People toiled, for the whole year, in order to have some money to buy luxuries, for Christmas.They bought some flour, currants, raisins and sometimes a pound of tea. The women made currant cakes, to eat on Christmas night. Fat bacon was also a treat. A pig was killed or some was bought, before the feast. They always had