Little Christmas
- This article is about the traditional celebration of Christmas in early January. For the Tasmanian island, see: Little Christmas Island
| Little Christmas | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Ireland Women's Christmas Women's Little Christmas Nollaig na mBan Scotland Là Challuinn Là na Bliadhna Ùire Other Old Christmas |
| Observed by | Christians in Ireland and the Irish diaspora, particularly women Scottish Highlanders |
| Type | Christian, Irish and Scottish |
| Significance | visit of the Three Kings to Jesus, former date of Christmas |
| Date | January 6 in Ireland, January 1 in the Scottish Highlands |
| Observances | religious services, gift giving, family gatherings, meeting friends |
| Related to | Christmas, Epiphany |
Little Christmas (Irish: Nollaig Bheag) is one of the traditional names in Ireland for January 6, more commonly known in the rest of the world as the Feast of the Epiphany. It is so called because under the older Julian calendar, Christmas Day celebrations fell on that day whereas under the Gregorian calendar it falls on December 25th. It is the traditional end of the Christmas season and the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary and secondary schools in Ireland.[1]
In the Scottish Highlands the term Little Christmas (Scottish Gaelic: Nollaig Bheag) is applied to New Year's Day, also known as Là Challuinn, or Là na Bliadhna Ùire,[2] while Epiphany is known as Là Féill nan Rìgh, the feast-day of the Kings.[2] The Transalpine Redemptorists who live on Papa Stronsay celebrate 'Little Christmas' on the twenty-fifth day of every month, except for December, when the twenty-fifth day is of course celebrated as Christmas Day.
In some parts of England, such as Lancashire, this day is also known as Little Christmas.[3] In Norway and Sweden, Little Christmas Day refers to January 13 (Norwegian: Tyvendedagen; Swedish: Tjugondedag), twenty days after Christmas, and is regarded as the day when ornaments must be removed from Christmas trees and any leftover food must be eaten.[4] Somewhat confusingly Christmas Eve is also referred to as "Little Christmas" in Scandanavia.[5][6] In the Isle of Man, New Year's Day on January 1 was formerly called Laa Nolick beg in Manx, or Little Christmas Day, while January 6 was referred to as Old Christmas Day.[7] The name Little Christmas is also found other languages including Slovene (mali Božič), Galician (Nadalinho), and Ukrainian.
In other parts of the world, it is sometimes referred to as Old Christmas or Old Christmas Day, so called for the same reasons as in Ireland, in that this was the traditional day of celebration under the Julian calendar.[8][9]
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[edit] Women's Christmas
Little Christmas is also called Women's Christmas (Irish: Nollaig na mBan), and sometimes Women's Little Christmas. The tradition, still very strong in Cork and Kerry is so called because of the Irish men taking on all the household duties for the day.[10] Most women hold parties or go out to celebrate the day with their friends, sisters, mothers, and aunts. Bars and restaurants serve mostly women and girls on this night. Children often buy presents for their mothers and grandmothers.
The tradition is not well documented, but one article from The Irish Times (January 1998), entitled On the woman's day of Christmas,[11] describes both some sources of information and the spirit of this occasion.
[edit] Set Dancing
A "Little Christmas" is also a figure in Irish set dancing.[12] It refers to a figure where half the set, four dancers, join together with hands linked behind partners lower back, and the whole figure proceeds to rotate in a clockwise motion, usually for eight bars.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ School terms in primary and post-primary schools
- ^ a b Edward Dwelly, Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2001).
- ^ Cheshire notes and queries. Swain and Co., Ltd.. 1882. http://books.google.com/books?id=_GMuAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Varadaraja Raman (June 2005). Variety in Religion and Science: Daily Reflections. iUniverse. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-0-595-35840-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=Xq_ia3xPzmYC&pg=PA37. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ American-Scandinavian Foundation (1917). Scandinavian review. American-Scandinavian Foundation.. http://books.google.com/books?id=JPk5AQAAIAAJ. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Norwegian Migration to America. Ardent Media. pp. 216–. GGKEY:AEZFNU47LJ2. http://books.google.com/books?id=vmjz0Iq9x5EC&pg=PA216. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Arthur William Moore (1971). The folk-lore of the Isle of Man. Forgotten Books. pp. 150–. ISBN 978-1-60506-183-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=9UXHJv1CgB0C&pg=PA150. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ John Harland (May 2003). Lancashire Folklore. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 216–. ISBN 978-0-7661-5672-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=Ha7dHO3W6L8C&pg=PA216. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ George Augustus Sala (1869). Rome and Venice: with other wanderings in Italy, in 1866-7. Tinsley brothers. pp. 397–. http://books.google.com/books?id=FfU2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA397. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Little Women's Christmas
- ^ ireland.com - The Irish Times, January 8, 1998 On the women's day of Christmas
- ^ Kelfenora set figures
- ^ YouTube video of the Labasheeda Set 3rd Figure Reel-Little Christmas
