Christmas in Cobh - Seeking Town Photos

[Katy]

:)'Yes' Christmas, Festive Season, its only a matter of weeks away......and to try and get you in the mood. I need your help please.
Do you by chance have any photos, of Christmas in Cobh, ie Town Center Tree, Choir in Town Centre, pictures of Shops with windows decorated.
I have one or two from around our town that I can share, so see what you can find guys.......and its 'Cyber Pints'......lol...from me to you.....cheers Katy:)

[fullastern]

I only have one such photo Katy and its not very good because it was taken with a camera phone about three years ago.


I'll take a few better pics when all the lights go up shortly.

[Katy]

Cheers Fulla, we have decorations and trees put around town every year.....mind you not as many as when I was younger.
Near the main shopping area they have a 'Christmas Crib' set up, and a few nights prior to christmas eve, around two hundred town folk (all ages, )turn up, from all churches, to sing Carols....health permitting I will try and get a few pics this year...... cheers Katy:)

ps, the photo below a friend emailed it to me, and its a large department store in Newcastle City Centre.....'Fenwicks' each year they decorate all the shop windows with a theme.....kids thinkits great...lol....so do many of the adults.....:)

[fullastern]

Hi Katy, I was reading in one of the local papers during the week that the council were calling on local businesses and individuals to make donations towards the Christmas lights and it seemed there was some doubt that there would be lights in Cobh for Christmas this year - maybe Kieran can fill us in more on this. There's always a large, well lit tree above in the convent or bishop's palace (not sure which now) but the town centre would be very bare without a tree and Christmas lights.

[Kieran]

I missed an earlier budget meeting at Town Hall las week so I may have missed a decision on that, but I know there is definately a tree this year as Breaking the Silence recieved permission to celebrate an evening of remembrance for deceased loved ones and friends. Candles will be given out for that with a gospel choir.
I think there will be lights in the squares, but the business people might be asked to do the rest of the Beach. Problem is, theres not many businesses left!

[Katy]

Hi Fulla, I think its the same all over.....like I mentioned in another post, we dont have the same amount of street lights as years ago...its all down to cost.....oohh!! Just got another pic emailed from a friend out Town centre lights switched on this week......look pretty good.......cheers Katy:)

[Kieran]

We were out to take pictures last night of a house down at the orchard -the Links. They get bigger each year and the householder has a box outside for donations which goes to the cancer society. This years ones were mind blowing. Part of it had tropical palms with coconuts lit up - more like Las Vegas!

[fullastern]

I rarely go up that way, must take a look. Some of the houses you see really overdo it with Christmas lights, especially in the city. It must cost a fortune to buy, maintain and power the lights.

[Katy]

Fingers crossed one of you Guys could post a photo or two.....A few years ago one of our local papers used to post pics of the Houses all Decorated up......like you said Kieran bit like Vegas
Must be one heck of an electric bill in the New Years post....oohh!! cheers Katy:)

[Ned Kelly]

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/0Toolpics/a.gif


An Irish Christmas - Then and Now
by Bridget Haggerty
If it snowed on Christmas Eve, Irish children were told that geese were being plucked in heaven. A new moon was a lucky omen. And cold, frosty weather was welcome, because this meant a mild spring and an absence of illness. On the other hand, mild weather on Christmas Eve was cause for concern because, according to the old Irish proverb, "A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard."

Regardless of the weather on the day before or on the day itself, the weeks preceding Christmas were spent in great preparation.

In the old days, the menfolk would be responsible for cleaning everything outside of the house and the women everything else inside of it. All of the structures would receive a fresh coat of whitewash, and linens, furniture, pots and pans would be washed, scoured, scrubbed or polished until they were spotless. It was up to the children to scout the countryside for appropriate decorations to be cut and brought home on Christmas Eve. Holly was especially prized because of its bright red berries and so were long tendrils of ivy and boughs of laurel which could be made into garlands. Mistletoe was rare in Ireland, but a child lucky enough to live near Limerick or in South Co. Wicklow, might have been able to add this ancient symbol of good fortune and fertility to the gathering of the greens.

Long ago, and also in the house in which I was raised, 'bringing home the Christmas' was a day filled with excitement. In times past, several members of a family would go to the nearest town for the Margadh Mor or Christmas Market. People from the country brought butter, eggs, poultry, vegetables and other farm produce to sell, and from the money they made, they purchased special, once-a-year items such as candy and toys for the children, new clothing, and ingredients for the Christmas dinner. In addition to selling their wares, this was also the day they brought gifts to relatives and friends who lived in the town. These were reciprocated in kind with gifts of 'town goods' and children lucky enough to accompany their parents were rewarded with coins slipped into their hands or pockets. The shopkeepers were also filled with generosity; they gave 'Christmas boxes' to their customers, each gift proportionate to the business they'd received that year. And in the pubs, all was merry and bright. Since then, many of the old customs have faded into antiquity, but I do remember my brothers and I eagerly waiting for dad on the day he was to bring home the Christmas.

Sure enough, and even though, as mum said, "he'd had a few on him," he arrived just before our bedtime. Even our mother had a look of eager anticipation on her face as he opened the big sack. There was always a large slab of bacon - that was to go with the goose for Christmas dinner ; there were Kit Kat bars for us to eat immediately; a big turnip he'd carve out later for the Christ candle; sprigs of holly, a bunch of mistletoe, and, best of all, a box of Christmas crackers; these weren't edibles - they were bright foil-wrapped slender cylinders which we pulled during our Christmas dinner. There'd be this loud pop and inside would be a toy and a paper hat.
Oh, what a luxury! We didn't always have crackers*, but when we did, it was a great sign of good times. And every year, no matter what, there was always something wrapped up for our mother. As much as we begged and badgered, she'd always smile and say, "I think I'll save this one for later on." Dad would get this silly look on his face and it was just like the kissy-face part at the Saturday morning picture show.

Nowadays, especially in cities like Dublin, Christmas has become almost as commercial and glittery as just about anywhere else. But in the past, it was beautifully simple. The greenery was placed on the mantle, the holly was positioned above the holy pictures and children were put to "work" making chains out of brightly colored paper; these were strung across the ceiling. Not until relatively recently did Irish families put up a Christmas tree; even at that, the ones I remember were no more than two or three feet tall and the only decorations were foil- wrapped chocolate ornaments, paper chains, and something we used to call "lametta" which was similar to American icicles. The tree was always placed in the middle of the sideboard, and, unless Father Christmas left something really big, the gifts were placed on either side. As I recall, we didn't have a manger scene at home, but we did look forward to visiting the big one at our church on Christmas morning. It was always put up on Christmas Eve, but the only things in it were the animals and a crib or creche filled with straw. Magically, on Christmas Day, the baby Jesus was in His crib, Mary and Joseph were on either side of Him, and shepherds with their sheep looked on in adoration.

As with most Irish families, my parents made every effort to have a plentiful supply of fuel for the holiday season. During the 1950s in London, we had coal fires, but in Ireland they burned peat, and in the old days, they'd have a special log for the fire called a bloc na Nollag or Christmas log. It was also customary to provide for poorer neighbors and villagers would pool their resources to make sure everyone had enough food and a warm fire. One tradition that was widespread years ago was the mutton raffle; enough people would contribute to cover the cost of a sheep and then, for several evenings, they would play cards until, by process of elimination, a winner was declared. Generally, the winner would share the prize with family, friends, neighbors and the poor. "Calling the Waites" was also a well-known custom and took place two weeks before Christmas. Musicians would serenade the inhabitants of a town several hours before day-break, calling out, in intervals, the time of the morning and whether the weather was cold, wet, frosty or clear. A similar practice was that of young men and boys going to the tops of small hills, blowing salutes to the season and answering each other from hill to hill. On the morning of Christmas Day, they'd awaken the people with loud salutes and then would often accompany villagers on their way to early Mass, still blowing cheerfully but also helping the elderly and small children over any rough spots in the road.

Back then, the Christmas season in Ireland was filled with mirth, merriment and good will toward men. Much has changed over the years. But, while new customs are replacing the old, (as in eating turkey for dinner and watching Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory on the telly afterwards), an Irish Christmas is still very similar to the old days, with most families staying at home to enjoy the festivities. Since we didn't have television until I was almost a teenager, I well remember my mother tuning in Radio Eireann so we could listen to Irish music and my dad contentedly sipping a Guinness, his feet tapping in time to a jig or reel. I also recall that for tea, mum served Christmas cake - and that reminded me of the following song which I recently found again on one of my Irish forums. In my mind I can still hear my dad singing it or...is that just wishful thinking on my part? In any event, here are the lyrics:

[fullastern]

Here's my blurred pics of Cobh from Christmas 2008.

[Ned Kelly]

Blurred maybe the way to go this xmas!

[fullastern]

I was a bit blurred myself when taking them!

[Ned Kelly]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

[Katy]

Thanks Guys, the Christmas story, photos of the Cobh Tree n Lights and the music link.....mega magic
Christmas ((((((Hugs))))))all round. cheers Katy

[Ned Kelly]

Two of my favourite singers singing a great song!~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxCM9dellRs

[Ned Kelly]

And the best nick cave song of all time!


Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8owifmb8n2s&feature=email)

[fullastern]

of course the Germans did invent Christmas as we know it today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCthRfMmJLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_79YJBD7OM

[Ned Kelly]

Mein Gott!

[Kieran]

Forgive my ignorance but who the hell is Nick Cave? I dont have speakers so missed the audio of that song. Heard of McGowan alright. lol

My Christmas favorite of all time is B. Crosby and Bowie's - Drummer Boy!

[fullastern]

Forgive my ignorance but who the hell is Nick Cave? I dont have speakers so missed the audio of that song. Heard of McGowan alright. lol

My Christmas favorite of all time is B. Crosby and Bowie's - Drummer Boy!

Good choice Kieran.

[Ned Kelly]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Cave

[Kieran]

I kid you not. No earphones either. Is N. Cave from Oz?

[Ned Kelly]

I give up!!!

[Kieran]

Ah' tell me before you give up, or will one of you give me a hint.

Sorry Ned, if I dont know its probably because I never heard of him. Now, maybe if I heard one of his songs, it might ring a bell or two, but on the other hand, if i had heard him in the past, he obvously didnt impress or cause me to remember -What can i say?

[fullastern]

Do they still have the old tradition of the 'wren boys' in Cobh? I haven't come across it yet? I don't mean the hunting and killing of the wren but the songs and door-to-door visits associated with it. I remember them coming to our door in the city when I was young but it seemed to die out in the early 1980s.

For those not familiar with the tradition here's an explanation from another internet site:

The tradition of 'Hunting the Wran' or the 'Wren' is to some degree alive in Ireland at Christmas. Once a common event throughout Ireland, it now takes place in certain towns and villages on St. Stephen’s Day, the day after Christmas Day.

People dress up in old clothes and paint their faces, wear straw hats and travel from door to door singing, dancing and playing music. Find out more about this very unusual age-old Irish Christmas custom…

Long ago in Ireland, young boys and men known as 'The Wren Boys' would go out into the woods. They would hunt for and then kill a wren and then parade the dead bird through the town on top of a decorated pole. Charming eh?

There is a lot of speculation as where this tradition stems from. One story says that long ago there was a plan by Irish soldiers to ambush a Viking soldier camp and a whole bunch of wrens pecked on the Viking soldiers drums and woke them up just in time for the plan to fail. The Irish soldiers were defeated. From then on, the wren was known as the bird of the devil.

The poor little Wren is also blamed for the betraying the Christian martyr St. Stephen when was in hiding by making noises, hence the reason for hunting the Wren on St. Stephen's Day.

Of course, the little wren was considered the 'King of all birds' in Celtic mythology, as it is said that the birds had a contest to see who could fly the highest. The clever wren flew higher than the eagle by sitting on the eagles back as it soared high and then the wren could fly even higher when the eagle got tired. So this custom of hunting the wren could also stem from Pagan times.

In the old days it was a real wren that was killed and placed on the top of the pole and the "wren boys" would carry it around to houses and beg for money to bury the bird as it was considered to be evil.

The Wren Boys would sing this traditional song at each house:

The Wran, the wran
the king of all Birds
on St. Stephen’s Day
it was caught in the furze,
up with the kettle
and down with the pan
give me a penny
to bury the wran.

This ancient tradition can still be seen in certain town and villages in Ireland and it really is a sight to behold! The Wren Boys march through the streets dressed in traditional attire (usually something made from straw) to the beat of drums and they stop off in bars along the way to play traditional music. Money is still collected but this is given to charity and of course a wren is not killed anymore but some Wren Boys march with a fake bird.