tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post6320117054228207528..comments2024-03-27T13:32:06.780-02:30Comments on The Other Side of Eighty: Nollaig na mBan (Women's Christmas)Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-23208273514511903512012-08-31T14:38:03.431-02:302012-08-31T14:38:03.431-02:30Thank you for the outstanding posts!Thank you for the outstanding posts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-79162497264225112682012-01-06T08:35:24.798-03:302012-01-06T08:35:24.798-03:30Loved this, thank you. Thought you might be intere...Loved this, thank you. Thought you might be interested in my own post, about Nollaig na mBan in Corca Dhuibhne.We're getting ready to party here tonight! felicity's blog: Nollaig na mBan - Another Great Irish Winter Festi... http://felicityhayes-mccoy.blogspot.com/2012/01/nollaig-na-mban-another-great-irish.html?spref=twFelicity Hayes-McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04475630244185386760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-67399981943461143072012-01-06T07:46:39.928-03:302012-01-06T07:46:39.928-03:30preparing a gorgeous dessert (or rather my husband...preparing a gorgeous dessert (or rather my husband is) to celebrate tonight in Brussels.maire ruahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808730134489375845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-16633627569544640902011-12-29T03:15:05.096-03:302011-12-29T03:15:05.096-03:30I am delighted to find this tradition to celebrate...I am delighted to find this tradition to celebrate on Epiphany....For 20+ years, I have hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange for family, friends, & neighbors..But last year my Father passed away in Oct, then in Nov, my dear Mother in Law, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Needless to say, Christmas 2010 was a blur and Cookie Exchanging was not to be...Then after battling for a year, Our sweet Mama went Home and her Memorial Mass was held in Minnesota on Dec 3, 2011. We have been blessed this past year with many visits and trips across the country. My husband's Dad is spending the Holidays with us and will hopefully be here until Feb. So, it seemed that another year would pass without my favorite female gathering...Tomorrow, invitations go out for Jan 6, 2012 and we will celebrate "Little Christmas" I am so grateful to you for sharing your tradition and always thankful to our Heavenly Father, Emmanuel, God With Us, for His abiding care. Blessing!!!Lisa: Spokane, WA, USAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-16412802034062630922011-12-28T17:09:44.641-03:302011-12-28T17:09:44.641-03:30The date is set for my second celebration of this ...The date is set for my second celebration of this in my own house.<br /><br />xoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17956614259563861254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-54744113244004200842011-12-07T00:40:43.460-03:302011-12-07T00:40:43.460-03:30Thank you so much for your account of this special...Thank you so much for your account of this special occasion. Creating an opportunity to celebrate Nollaig na mBan was one of the reasons I started the Irish Women's Network of BC in 1998; we're planning our 13th celebration at present, and I have put a link to your article on our Facebook page. What is particularly special, I would even call it precious, about your account is that it is an actual memory of the original celebration. I hope that it inspires more stories and more celebrations.Mary Monks Hatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844377356162477350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-16089144574837205822011-01-06T08:58:52.561-03:302011-01-06T08:58:52.561-03:30This is such a wonderful, evocative description of...This is such a wonderful, evocative description of a lovely tradition! I hope you don't mind my sharing it on my own blog. There is definitely a new awareness about Nollaig na nBan in Ireland again and I know many women who make a point of celebrating it - preserving and adapting it for a new generation of women. Thank you so much for sharing it!wheretheresawoolhttp://www.wheretheresawool.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-27436126773728110932010-01-06T07:13:02.931-03:302010-01-06T07:13:02.931-03:30I was doing a little research on Nollaig na mBan f...I was doing a little research on Nollaig na mBan for my own blog today and abandoned what I was going to write when I read this! I just had to share this story with my own readers and nothing I could write would match up to your evocative words.<br /><br />Nollaig na mBan shona dhuitcountrywifehttp://diaryofacountrywife.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-25186823293678496282010-01-05T09:19:34.117-03:302010-01-05T09:19:34.117-03:30Hi - what a coincidence -I'm a Dublin woman vi...Hi - what a coincidence -I'm a Dublin woman visiting my son and his wife and new baby in Singapore for Christmas and was just telling my family about Nollaig na Mban - My husband swears he never heard of it which I don't believe for a minute So I was delighted to be proven right by Googling and up came all these memories. It was not a tradition in Dublin or thereabouts to my knowledge but in recent times there has been a revival of the old tradition. Let's all be ready and spread the word for 2011 - Slan agus Beannacht - Mna na H'Eireann !!!<br />PatriciaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-75684403967112205702009-12-14T19:02:58.966-03:302009-12-14T19:02:58.966-03:30Hello WWW, I am a Kerry woman in NYC harnassing th...Hello WWW, I am a Kerry woman in NYC harnassing the new power of Nollaig na mBan to run a charity breakfast on Jan 6th, 2010. I would like to use your image of the women in the circle on my flier. Is it yours and could I use it? Many thanks, CarmelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-11116022170107322172009-01-07T02:21:00.000-03:302009-01-07T02:21:00.000-03:30Marylou:Oh you're so kind! *blush*, I think writin...Marylou:<BR/>Oh you're so kind! *blush*, I think writing defines our voices like nothing else can. We are all so unique....<BR/>Thank you for your cherished words, my dear!<BR/>XO<BR/>WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-70215702736562772222009-01-07T02:19:00.000-03:302009-01-07T02:19:00.000-03:30Gaye:Oh you've so cheered me up to know that Niall...Gaye:<BR/>Oh you've so cheered me up to know that Niall's mother does this!!! Yippee!!<BR/>XO<BR/>WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-85814205502228186542009-01-06T20:09:00.000-03:302009-01-06T20:09:00.000-03:30The thing I enjoy most about your writing, Mary,li...The thing I enjoy most about your writing, Mary,like that of my other Irish friend, Tessa, is the Irish words and phrasing. I hear the lilt and cadence as I read, and imagine being in the room, by the fire, sipping sherry, and listening to your Irish memories. Lovely, truly lovely...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-30100572962678639292009-01-06T17:14:00.000-03:302009-01-06T17:14:00.000-03:30My Niall's mum celebrates Women's Christmas every ...My Niall's mum celebrates Women's Christmas every year with her friends I believe. So some women manage to hold on to the tradition fortunately, although I don't think it's celebrated with that passion and tradition you have beautifully described in your writing. A pity if it were to be lost in time completely. All things women should be cherished not left to be forgotten.<BR/>GxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-48914362853763821072009-01-06T12:04:00.000-03:302009-01-06T12:04:00.000-03:30Reading your delightful account, I could almost he...Reading your delightful account, I could almost hear the chit-chat and the gorgeous Irish brogue WWW !<BR/><BR/>It'd be a pity if the custom has faded out, like so many others. Yours is a valuable record, and it will always be here on-line for generations to come. I can imagine some young women in 50 years' time reading about Women's Christmas here, and deciding to start it over again. :-)Twilighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138621610593773784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-35706629442234894262009-01-06T11:55:00.000-03:302009-01-06T11:55:00.000-03:30@Hull:Thank you!@Tessa:When the column was publish...@Hull:<BR/>Thank you!<BR/>@Tessa:<BR/>When the column was published several years back I got letters saying it was a custom originating in the southeast of Ireland. My sister revived the tradition in her family and I think it is slowly coming back into its own.<BR/>@RJA:<BR/>Fine man that you are you'd be more than welcome at my gatherings!<BR/>@Jo:<BR/>You're welcome!<BR/>@Nick:<BR/>I have my gathering at my annual Ladies' Brunch in February which is the closest I come to celebrate this.<BR/>@Conor:<BR/>Thank you - I wonder has your mother heard of this?<BR/>XO<BR/>WWWWisewebwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-89268938168963174032009-01-06T09:26:00.000-03:302009-01-06T09:26:00.000-03:30Happy Women's Christmas to you :-) I'll raise a gl...Happy Women's Christmas to you :-) I'll raise a glass of sherry this evening in your name XAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-17747701499777211752009-01-06T09:19:00.000-03:302009-01-06T09:19:00.000-03:30It's a wonderful tradition, which must be enormous...It's a wonderful tradition, which must be enormously positive for all the women present, not having to allow for all those annoying male sensibilities and just being themselves. It really ought to be more common.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-78514936690601959542009-01-06T09:11:00.000-03:302009-01-06T09:11:00.000-03:30Wow! What a wonderful tradition, and so many amaz...Wow! What a wonderful tradition, and so many amazing memories - thank you for sharing :-)Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17965300148218903639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-79485818718752431452009-01-06T00:21:00.000-03:302009-01-06T00:21:00.000-03:30Well, as one who does all the cooking over Christm...Well, as one who does all the cooking over Christmas, I do believe I have a right to share in these festivities. Though I dare say my demands will fall on deaf female ears.<BR/><BR/>Beautifully, and poignantly, written.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-74373873760055204952009-01-05T22:23:00.000-03:302009-01-05T22:23:00.000-03:30I had not heard of this tradition before, even tho...I had not heard of this tradition before, even though my mother was a Cork woman (born, bread, and buttered in Mallow!) In our house, January 6th was the day we took the tree down and packed the decorations away. We would make a little occasion of it, with neighbours coming in for tea and savouries and to help with the dismantling of the tree.<BR/><BR/>I think Stephen's Day was the Nollaig na mBan for my mother and her sisters. The husbands would go off shooting early in the day, and the three sisters would descend on our house, because it was the biggest, with their children in tow. My mother would have been baking like a fiend all morning, and there would be scones and apple pies and her special chocolate cake and, of course, the obligatory Bristol Cream sherry. While we played with our cousins in the park in front of our house, she and her sisters would let their hair down and have a grand old time. As I grew older, I would hang around and listen to them talk and, yes, it was often about the lost little ones, because all of them had lost babies. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for this post, Mary. It brought back such deep-set memories of how hard life was, in many ways, for Irish women of that time and age. And yet, they had this wonderful facility for carving out little islands of time for themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-45512420452123609682009-01-05T17:02:00.000-03:302009-01-05T17:02:00.000-03:30What a stunning idea, WWW and so beautifully and t...What a stunning idea, WWW and so beautifully and tenderly written. What a joy you are my dear xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com