Little Christmas -The Epiphany or Women's Christmas -Traditions of the 12th Day of Christmas!

In the words of my niece my New Year's  'revolution' is to start to being more active on this blog which has been sadly neglected for the past year.

 Nollag Beag (Little Christmas) or Nollag na mBan(Women's Christmas) The Epiphany or Feast of the Three Kings. In Ireland there are many traditions associated with it.  In the West of Ireland the eve of Little Christmas the tradition was to light Twelve Candle and this was something we did growing up and carry on the tradition today minus the cow dung!  Each candle represented a family member and it meant that family would die off according to how the candles burnt out. Here is a description from Sacred Texts about  Christmas in Ritual in Europe which is very interesting.

Here is the description of this tradition from that text. ''As for the fires, an Irish custom to some extent supplies a parallel. On Epiphany Eve a sieve of oats was set up, “and in it a dozen of candles set round, and in the centre one larger, all lighted.” This was said to be in memory of the Saviour and His apostles, lights of the world.  Here is an account of a similar custom practised in Co. Leitrim:—

“A piece of board is covered with cow-dung, and twelve rush lights are stuck therein. These are sprinkled with ash at the top, to make them light easily, and then set alight, each being named by some one present, and as each dies so will the life of its owner. A ball is then made of the dung, and it is placed over the door of the cow house for an increase of cattle. Sometimes mud is used, and the ball placed over the door of the dwelling-house.” 

The poem Coinnle ar Lasadh /Le Máirtín Ó Direáin describes twelve candle lighting in houses on an Island on the West. 

In oileán beag i gcéin san Iarthar
Beidh coinnle ar lasadh anocht,
I dtíthe ceann tuí, is i dtíthe ceann slinne,
Dhá cheann déag de choinnle geala a bhéas ar lasadh anocht

Mo chaoinbheannacht siar leis na coinnle geala
A bhéas ar lasadh anocht
Is céad beannacht faoi dhó
Le láimh amháin a lasfas coinnle anocht.

Today is known as Nollag na mBan and was considered a day of rest for women after the hard work & toil over Christmas. Here is a wonderful description of the day. This tradition which was strong in the Cork & Kerry. According to Kevin Danaher’s classic book ‘The Year in Ireland: A Calendar’, Nollaig na mBan is defined by the notion that ‘Christmas Day was marked by beef and whiskey and men’s fare, while on Little Christmas Day the dainties preferred by women – cake, tea and wine – were more in evidence’.