IRL-GALWAY-L Archives

Archiver > IRL-GALWAY > 2001-12 > 1008980536


From: "Tony Riordan" <>
Subject: [GALWAY] Lighting the outside of the house.
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 17:29:10 -0700
References: <EBEBJHNCFOPCOEMGMIKMOEIJCFAA.Watchdog1@bigpond.com.au>


Gale <> wrote,


"Forgot to mention the recent activity of driving around looking at all the
house decorations..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is very common throughout in the US as well. Here in southern Arizona,
near the Mexican border, you often see "lumenarios" which were candles
inside of paper bags on with sand in the bottom. They are lined up along
walkways, driveways, and even some streets. My Mexican friends say it's
significance is symbolic, in rememberance of those who visited the manger in
Bethlehem. - the Magi, the Shepherds, etc. It lights their way, and is a
sign of welcome.

When I was a child, my family always had one electric candle in each front
windown of our house. There were seven front windows in all. My cousins'
house also had similar decorations.

I have heard an Irish Christmas blessing which refers to a lighted candle in
the window;

"May peace and plenty be the first
To lift the latch on your door,
And happiness be guided
to your home
By the Candle of Christmas."

I believe that the custom of putting candle in one's window was widespread
in Ireland during the Great Famine. It was a sign of welcome to those
people, including families with children, who were homeless, on the road, so
to speak, search of food, work, shelter. Even if the host had no food he
would offer water, or perhaps milk for the children, and the warmth of the
peat fire. If the house was already full, they could at least find shelter
in his cow shed.

Is it possible that the custom of lighting one's home grew from the Irish
custom of placing one candle in their window? The custom is as widespread
as the Irish race after the famine and the rest of the nineteenth century.
Perhaps the "Candle of Christmas" followed them to Australia and North
America?

Christmas blessings to you and yours,

Tony Riordan








This thread: