tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post6495942369491967194..comments2024-03-27T13:32:06.780-02:30Comments on The Other Side of Eighty: Nollaig na mBan - Women's Christmas - a re-post.Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-35177614028206408922019-01-10T17:02:41.651-03:302019-01-10T17:02:41.651-03:30I really enjoyed your retelling of the Women’s Chr...I really enjoyed your retelling of the Women’s Christmas in Ireland – what a lovely custom. My mother was secular and my father Armenian orthodox(he just went alone to the Paris Armenian church on January 6th) so Christmas was only fun for me when I was a wee child, just because of Papa Noel. So when I went to London to my pen pal family when I was 13 I just loved their Christmas. I do remember buying some bath cubes at Woolworth’s too, maybe violet scent. Then while my Paris friends would go skiing during the holidays I would always return to London every year until I was 20. That’s one of the reasons I became bilingual. My English Christmases were so much fun, much better than at home in Paris.Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-35540464004639170482019-01-09T08:28:54.314-03:302019-01-09T08:28:54.314-03:30Thank you. It gives me great pleasure to reciproc...Thank you. It gives me great pleasure to reciprocate though it would have been nicer to have done so face to face!Ramana Rajgopaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07595611334904650281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-45354652989468333492019-01-08T20:43:59.656-03:302019-01-08T20:43:59.656-03:30Lovely memories you obviously treasure, WWW. What ...Lovely memories you obviously treasure, WWW. What a good idea too! <br /><br />I was reading, earlier this week, that Christian Orthodox countries don't celebrate Christmas until 7 January - something connected with the old Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian version we use. I thought, at first, that perhaps your Women's Christmas might be connected, but it doesn't seem likely. :) Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-50731269363119212512019-01-08T02:12:46.206-03:302019-01-08T02:12:46.206-03:30I've never heard of Women's Christmas unti...I've never heard of Women's Christmas until now. I think it's a lovely event and there should be more of it everywhere. It probably works better in families with many women in them.Riverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794655013673748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-77654714474665384892019-01-08T01:32:46.558-03:302019-01-08T01:32:46.558-03:30Delightful to hear of this — quite unknown to me. ...Delightful to hear of this — quite unknown to me. I did always delight in hearing any stories the older adults in my life shared — also listening to their recollections of earlier years events. Joaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03155775053108104385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-50682485848042043052019-01-08T00:38:39.088-03:302019-01-08T00:38:39.088-03:30There was one called Gardenia Molly. Every time I ...There was one called Gardenia Molly. Every time I get a whiff now I think of my mother and the lovely look on her face and my granny beaming at me. I know it was peculiar to Cork originally but it has spread far and wide now and someone told me it had made its way to the West Coast of Newfoundland many years ago.<br /><br />I'm going to try something next year to honour the day as I don't have the strength or space for hosting and cooking anymore. Watch this space :)<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-5601948659207398652019-01-08T00:35:54.141-03:302019-01-08T00:35:54.141-03:30It's good to keep some traditions alive that b...It's good to keep some traditions alive that bring our dear departed a little closer to us, isn't it. The South of Ireland had this tradition, but I understand it is spreading and the Irish Times had a wonderful feature on it with all the historic buildings lit up by projections of famous Irish women. I actually cried reading it.<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-86114453961339295062019-01-08T00:34:04.364-03:302019-01-08T00:34:04.364-03:30Oh Candace, that touches my heart, your poor mothe...Oh Candace, that touches my heart, your poor mother. I hope she felt a little better in herself later on in life :(<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-46483924858458200922019-01-08T00:32:19.117-03:302019-01-08T00:32:19.117-03:30Yes and it's been revived around the world too...Yes and it's been revived around the world too - I've heard from those in New York and Oz as well. Long may it prevail~~<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-75278942584277223832019-01-08T00:25:30.527-03:302019-01-08T00:25:30.527-03:30I loved reading this. I don't remember ever he...I loved reading this. I don't remember ever hearing about Nollaig na nBan growing up in Limerick. Maybe it was only in rural parts? Though my mother grew up on a farm 25 miles out the road. If she had it growing up she never mentioned it, but it sounds like a lovely tradition. Which was your favorite scent of those bath cubes - that I also bought at Woolworth's for my mum! My favorite was 'Apple Blossom."<br />My Ukrainian m-i-l used to tell us of their celebrations of Epiphany (for me, Little Christmas) when she was growing up in Ukraine.<br />Maybe next Christmas I'll organize Nollaig na mBan for my friends. But, you know, I think I might have said exactly that in a comment some other year when you ran this piece! And nothing happened. Lovely to read about it again at any rate.mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03797484583400519909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-26377806303807615342019-01-08T00:16:42.860-03:302019-01-08T00:16:42.860-03:30Lovely to hear of this. My father was born in Ros...Lovely to hear of this. My father was born in Roscommon in 1890. He was in the States when his mother died in Ireland in 1935. My father loved to tell all the Irish tales but he never mentioned this - and I doubt his mother or sisters took part - perhaps because they were not Catholic. But my mother had wonderful stories of customs in the north of Scotland where she was from....first-footing on NY's always brought laughter when we heard the stories. I feel close to both my parents as I am writing this.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019795727444192776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-83240951067192884702019-01-07T20:23:46.343-03:302019-01-07T20:23:46.343-03:30My Grandmother said my mother's personality wa...My Grandmother said my mother's personality was much like my Grandfather's. I never met him as he died during the depression when my mother was 13. She was often around all her mother's "people" but was very shy and VERY private like her father. When she talked to me about the facts of life it was after we had a class about it at school and she was so white and shook so much I felt bad for her. We moved from Illinois to Calif. when I was nine and my Grandma said to me. "You will have to be brave and help your mother." Very strange in my family where children were much cared for. My poor mother cried every night after we went to bed and she thought we couldn't hear for at least 2 years after we moved.Candacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04728224499293623221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-13553708130013113862019-01-07T11:14:07.354-03:302019-01-07T11:14:07.354-03:30Bord na Mona turf briquettes! Sweet Afton cigarett...Bord na Mona turf briquettes! Sweet Afton cigarettes! And I’m assuming a dudeen is a dainty ladies white clay pipe? A wonderful account WWW. I checked with my niece in Co Kildare just now whether Nollaig na mBan is still celebrated among the younger generation of feisty irish women. She says it certainly is, in a pub with lunch and cocktails “... as long as you have the time, the money, kids that don’t need to be taxied anywhere and an understanding husband “ xxxAnne Brewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-44577328339712498842019-01-07T10:58:20.252-03:302019-01-07T10:58:20.252-03:30Interesting about your mother Candace, perhaps she...Interesting about your mother Candace, perhaps she was brought up in a house where things were kept private? Who knows, as her mother was so different. My father's sisters were quite repressed and in such contrast to my mother's sisters who were live wires.<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-78575703293248752492019-01-06T23:07:19.816-03:302019-01-06T23:07:19.816-03:30What a wonderful tradition! I loved listening to ...What a wonderful tradition! I loved listening to my Grandma and her sisters(their mama was from Ireland)talking about bygone days. My mother was very reserved and embarrassed by so many things that she never told anything interesting and never thought her children should hear anything. Her mother and aunts however were so enlightening when they seemed to forget I was there.Candacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04728224499293623221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-58055428481162535062019-01-06T20:16:59.917-03:302019-01-06T20:16:59.917-03:30Nothing like the conversations of these wonderful ...Nothing like the conversations of these wonderful women who let it all hang out on Women's Christmas with the sherry loosening up the tongues and the forgetfulness for the children in the room lapping it all up. I had a favourite place behind the sofa!<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-3457140230494356672019-01-06T20:15:22.327-03:302019-01-06T20:15:22.327-03:30Now you have a purpose in life RJA, have at it my ...Now you have a purpose in life RJA, have at it my good man :)<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-3168548999835624522019-01-06T20:14:27.914-03:302019-01-06T20:14:27.914-03:30It is wonderful, especially when all the sorrows a...It is wonderful, especially when all the sorrows are put behind you and a new year is welcomed :)<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-55302976626135318562019-01-06T20:13:55.327-03:302019-01-06T20:13:55.327-03:30No idea what you're talking about Fred. Are yo...No idea what you're talking about Fred. Are you on the right blog for that comment?<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-65059590356358011422019-01-06T20:12:39.921-03:302019-01-06T20:12:39.921-03:30Oh I'm an atheist also. It was the wonderful w...Oh I'm an atheist also. It was the wonderful women tradition that was so wonderful!<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-48719654315349860902019-01-06T20:12:05.871-03:302019-01-06T20:12:05.871-03:30Yes we all need women time. I started this traditi...Yes we all need women time. I started this tradition both in Toronto and in Newfoundland. Everyone loved it!<br /><br />XO<br />WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-36483463001869029662019-01-06T19:00:45.602-03:302019-01-06T19:00:45.602-03:30I read this with a lilt in your pen. I had Irish a...I read this with a lilt in your pen. I had Irish aunts and cousins, a grandmother, but my father committed the sin of marrying a Baptist and I was consigned to wonderful German and English women who gabbed all day and half the night, and I listened, wide eyed, open mouthed. Thank you for reposting.Joanne Noragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601010208310707750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-59484039086650377462019-01-06T17:30:24.612-03:302019-01-06T17:30:24.612-03:30Perhaps they should start a 'Man's Christm...Perhaps they should start a 'Man's Christmas' for the small minority of males (like me!) who do all the cooking and shopping over Christmas - and I have done for the last twenty years.<br />A lovely piece, though, WWW and no surprise the original caused such a stir.R J Adamshttps://sparrowchat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-75542230363971328382019-01-06T16:52:25.226-03:302019-01-06T16:52:25.226-03:30That's really wonderful. I've never heard ...That's really wonderful. I've never heard of Women's Christmas. In the Episcopal church today is Epiphany. But I like the women's tradition better.Secret Agent Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-28838762344906832262019-01-06T16:46:32.977-03:302019-01-06T16:46:32.977-03:30"became pagan" ???
Sorry.
He was paga..."became pagan" ??? <br /><br />Sorry.<br /><br />He was pagan before the church got hold of him. After he escaped, he would be a heathen; by religious parlance, even if he was more enlightened than while the church had their hooks in him.FredThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08382242668090490676noreply@blogger.com