Little Christmas... when men took over the household tasks

A fascinating look back at what life was like in Kells over 70 years ago was provided during a lecture on folklore and old Christmas and other traditions by Bairbre Ni Fhloinn from University College, Dublin at Headfort House, Kells, just before Christmas. Barbara Ni Fhloinn spoke of the importance of folklore, which shows how people behaved and interacted with each other, showed what acceptable behaviour was, and helped people today find out what makes us what we are and how we behave in modern times. The attendance heard that much fascinating material was collated in Kells during the Schools Folklore Scheme in 1937-1938. Michael McGovern was delighted to see an entry written by his aunt, Mollie McGovern, on 29th April 29th, 1938, aged 13, about the 'Blessed Lady and the Rushes'. Mary Aughey (13) recorded on 22nd April 1938 that Mr Caul made cartwheels and chairs in the place where Mr Usher has his house. Mrs Suran from Maudlin had a spinning wheel and she spun nets, thread and clothes. Mr Smith from Church Street made pig-rings and nails. In the house that is now occupied by Mrs Smith of Market Street, Tom Murtagh carried on chandlery work, making rush candles and soap. Joe Kane's father was also working with Mr Murtagh. Stone-cutting was also carried on by Mr Sharp. There was a sawpit in Maudlin owned by Mr Smith. Mr Patrick Gibney said in 1938 that up to 50 years previously, there had been a tannery in Kells, at Newmarket Street, which gave employment to 30 people. There was also a chandlery where millions of candles were manufactured, giving employment to 20 or 30 people. Vera Hodges of Kells Parochial NS gave examples of local speech in 1938. These included ending sentences with the word "but" - for example, "I must be going now but" or "What's on ye?" meaning "What is the matter with you?" Several accounts were written about a severe storm in 1933 in Kells. C McBride of Kieran, Kells, gave this account: "We had a severe snow storm in the years 1933 in the end of February. My father said he had never seen or heard the like. It began that morning at eight o'clock or sometime around it. The wind became very strong and severe like a snowdrift. There was three feet of snow on the ground the first morning. "I heard the next day that some old man was coming to the shop for bread and he was coming near Carnaross when he came to a snow drift and he got lost in it. The people went out searching for him. They came near Carnaross and they found him lying dead in a snowdrift. "Lightown Road was covered with snow and the snow was even with the hedge, and nothing could go on it. The road men cleared a pass in the centre of the road two feet wide. No people could go to Mass because there was no pass on the broad road," he wrote. The questionnaire on Christmas traditions (1944) revealed some interesting facts: only two Christmas trees were recorded in the whole of Bray; 6th January was important as 'Nollaig na mBan' (Little Women's Christmas), where men took on the household tasks and it was bad luck to take down decorations until 7th January. On the 12th night - 6th January - every member of the household lit a small candle and said the rosary. The person whose candle went out first was believed to be going to die first. The Christmas candle, which dates back to Saturnalia, was important during this time - either one big candle in the window or a trio of candles to represent the Trinity or the Holy Family. This had a bigger impact in the countryside. Candles were lit by the youngest child in the house on Christmas Eve. It was believed that articles left outside the door on Christmas Eve would be blessed by the Holy Family as they passed on by. The playing of games on Christmas Day was prevalent, holly and ivy were staple decorations (mistletoe did not grow much in Ireland). If there was more ivy in the decorations, women would boss the house till the next Christmas and vice versa. Many people ate goose or beef on Christmas Day, and colcannon the night before. On Christmas Eve, the men worked as usual but brought home the 'Christmas Block' - normally off an ash tree, as big as the fireplace would hold - which would burn all Christmas Eve and the next day. Women stayed up all night on Christmas Eve making and boiling the Christmas pudding - they would not make it before lest they might eat it; nor would they bring the whiskey home before Christmas Eve lest they might drink it. Women went shopping early on 24th December for the "goods" - in groups - in case a robber might meet them on the way. People believed that donkeys/livestock knelt at midnight on Christmas Eve - but one wasn't allowed to go and have a look! Barbara Ni Fhloinn was interested to hear of the Meathpedia project that Kells Tourism Forum is launching, a gathering of modern folklore through the school system. Barbara was presented with a copy of the booklet 'Headfort House', written by Michael Bolton, as a token of thanks from the Kells Tourism Forum.