{"id":3519,"date":"2012-01-04T12:45:12","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T11:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.traveleurope.com\/en\/?p=3519"},"modified":"2013-10-01T10:04:11","modified_gmt":"2013-10-01T09:04:11","slug":"january-6th-in-ireland-little-womens-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.traveleurope.com\/en\/january-6th-in-ireland-little-womens-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"January 6th in Ireland: Little Women’s Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nollaig Bheag<\/strong>\u2013 Irish for Little Christmas \u2013 is one of the traditional names in Ireland for January 6th, probably known in the rest of the world as the Celebration of the Epiphany<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In Ireland, January 6th is called and celebrated as Little Christmas<\/strong> because, until the Gregorian calendar began being used, Christmas was actually celebrated on the 6th of January, and not on the 25th of December. This day is also known as Women\u2019s Christmas<\/strong> because in many Irish homes around the world, women have the \u201cday off\u201d to celebrate with friends and go out with other women while the men take over the household duties.<\/p>\n

The custom goes back to the days when large families were the norm. Men never lifted a finger in the house to help, and were never expected to. But every year, after the Christmas holiday, tired women finally got a break \u2013 for one day, at least: t<\/strong>he 12th (and last) day of Christmas<\/strong><\/a>, that it, exactly January 6th.<\/p>\n

Ireland’s traditional girls’ night out is still observed by a few dedicated girlfriends, although the tradition isn\u2019t kept alive as a few decades ago.<\/p>\n

In fact, in the past<\/strong>, on Little Christmas women used to sit in \u201cthe snug,\u201d<\/strong> a small private room inside the front door, drinking stout and dining with thick corned beef sandwiches provided by the publican<\/strong>. For the rest of the year, the only time respectable women would drink a glass of stout would be because it was \u201cgood for iron in the blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were \u201cfree\u201d for the whole day, and they used to spend it chatting, singing and relaxing.<\/p>\n

N<\/strong>owadays, wine and lunch has replaced the bottle of stout and corned beef sandwiches<\/strong>. And of course, today\u2019s new men, no strangers to the kitchen, are at home trying their hand at cooking and spending quality time with their children.<\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s a pleasure to see that a fascinating, meaningful tradition such Little Women\u2019s Christmas, still survives. What is more, it\u2019s becoming more popular and many Irish women now gather on the Sunday nearest Epiphany, to have tea and cakes, to chat and stay in good company!<\/p>\n

However, on January 7th, ordinary life is back for everyone, it\u2019s time to get a real start to the new year, as about Epiphany<\/strong>, Italians<\/strong><\/a> usually say it \u201ccarries away all the holidays\u201d. Mumble… what a tomfoolery!!<\/p>\n

Photo by Toni Kaarttinen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Ireland, January 6th is called and celebrated as Little Christmas because, until the Gregorian calendar began being used, Christmas was actually celebrated on the 6th of January, and not on the 25th of December. 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