Learn about origins of Christmas traditions at Castlebar talk
Professor Salvador Ryan will host the talk at the Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park.
Get into the Christmas spirit and rediscover the beauty of some well-known (and not so well-known) Irish Christmas traditions, through an interactive talk next Saturday, December 2, at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar.
The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to welcome Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, for this special event.
Prof Ryan will trace the origins of Christmas traditions and explore their manifestations in history, art, music and literature.
The talk marks the publication this week of Prof Ryan's new book, . This collection of 75 articles from a broad range of contributors reflects on what Christmas has meant to Irish people through the ages, at home and abroad.
Topics include festive feasting and fighting in the Middle Ages; a history of Irish Christmas food; crimes of Christmas past; Christmas in the Irish folk tradition; the claim that Santa's grave is in Co Kilkenny; and the curious custom of reciting 4,000 'Hail Marys' in the lead-up to Christmas.
In this upcoming talk at Turlough Park, Prof Ryan will look at how Christmas traditions run deep, and are often filled with precious memories. These customs have become so familiar that we take them for granted. But they had to start somewhere. Where did they come from? What is the origin of our most cherished Christmas traditions? Some are very ancient, but others are relatively recent.
Prof Ryan will bring the audience on an interactive journey to uncover the roots of the most familiar aspects of the Christmas story - looking at ancient writings; artistic developments through the Middle Ages; Christmas carols; Christmas cards; and Christmas plays. The presentation aims to enrich the participant's understanding of Christmas and its traditions, while having fun along the way (and perhaps singing a few carols as well!).
Admission to this talk is free but booking is required. Telephone the bookings office on 094-90 31751 or email educationtph@museum.ie. Visit www.museum.ie for further details.
