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Greetings & Blessings to all

Welcome to our December newsletter.

Well, here we are in the month of Christmas. As Dylan Thomas said “the never to be forgotten day at the end of the unremembered year”.

I have my Christmas tree up and decorated, lights and all. I’ve decorated the living room upstairs and the family room downstairs. I have the wreath on the door and a spotlight pointed at it. The Christmas candles are in the windows to be turned on December 6^th, the feast of St. Nicholas.

I still have a lot to do, including this newsletter and I don’t have extra time this year. As I said last month I’m going to Washington D.C. to attend my youngest nephew’s wedding. I leave on the 18^tha couple of days after my Christmas party on the 15^th. When I come back on the 22^ndI’ll have two days to put together Christmas dinner.

Not too bad— I only have to host dinner for 12 people. Of course I have to do as much as possible before I go. That will include two pies (Apple and Mincemeat), by the way, when I went to buy the mincemeat the girl I asked about it had never heard of it?! and clean and set up the table in the basement. I’ll set up everything except the stemware and cover it all with a sheet. I don’t want dinner to get dusty.

I hope all of you have a wonderful, Happy Christmas and New Years. Yikes! I still have to buy the presents for my seven grandkids.

Enough of my nattering.

Again my thanks for the contributions. Please keep them coming. I would like appropriate news or other links more than anything.

We’re all in this together let’s make it as good as we can. Stay with me everybody.

Enough of the blather...

Is this your first edition? Many thanks for joining us and if you like our musings and meanderings please feel free to share them with your family and friends. And do encourage them to sign up. The more of us, the merrier! And for all of our readers, we hope this issue finds you in good health, good spirits and good company.

On with the update...

IN THIS ISSUE:

The Weather

Up the minute forecasts provided by Ireland's official source for all weather-related news. Please click Met Eireann. http://www.met.ie/forecasts/

Basic Irish

Links

Quips, Quotes, Proverbs & Toasts

A Bit of the Wit

Joke of The Month

Did You Know

The week That Is

Leave 'em Laughing

Last Words

Basic Irish

Word: Christmas
Irish: Nollaig
Pronunciation: null-ahg
Phrase: Happy Christmas to you
Irish: Nollaig Shona dhuit/dhíbh*
Pronunciation: null-ig hun-ah gwich/yeev
*singular/plural
Phrase: Seasons Greetings
Irish: Beannachtaí an tSéasúir
Pronunciation: BAN-ock-tee on Tay-zure

LINKS

1.Ireland has third highest quality of life in world, says UN report

The annual Human Development Index rankings are calculated using three categories: health, education and income.

Norway topped the list, followed by Switzerland, with UK and US taking 15th and 16th places.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-has-third-highest-quality-of-life-in-world-says-un-report-1.4110646

It just sounds like Ireland to me—Russ

2.It’s estimated that around one million Irish adults will be travelling back home for Christmas this year.

According to research carried out by Mastercard, the average Irish person will spend nearly €400 travelling home over the next few weeks.

It's over double (€136) what the average person is expected to spend on presents, which goes to show that 'being there' is the *real* gift ... right? Moving on.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/one-million-irish-people-set-travel-home-ireland-christmas-175154

I wish I was with them—Russ

3.Disease prediction brought closer by Irish research discovery

Predicting a person’s likelihood of developing disease, long before signs and symptoms appear, has moved closer following a research discovery by Irish scientists.

A team at Queen’s University Belfast examined how certain DNA elements work to regulate gene expression within the genome and how this predisposes people to diseases.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/disease-prediction-brought-closer-by-irish-research-discovery-1.4111290?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Government+wants+RTÉ+to+retain+option+of+selling+Dublin+HQ&utm_campaign=morning_briefing_digest

Whoa, could be important but, like most, it probably won’t effect us—Russ

4. The best Irish Christmas albums to listen to this holiday season

Tis the season! Tune into these Irish Christmas songs to get merry this holiday season.

The past few years, it’s become something of a column tradition for me to share my Celtic Christmas favorites—so who am I to interfere with tradition?

https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/best-irish-christmas-albums?utm_campaign=Best+of+IC+-+Dec.+10+-+2019-12-10&utm_content=Story5&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

5. Cork woman crowned Ireland's funniest person of 2019

A Cork woman has been crowned Ireland’s funniest person, just three months after making her stand-up comedy debut.

Sinéad Quinlan from Carrignavar beat off stiff competition from two other female and a male comic to win the "Stand-up and be Funny" contest over RTÉ’s Ray D'Arcy Show.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/cork-woman-crowned-irelands-funniest-person-2019-175028

Good for her—Russ

6. New documentary will explore Ireland's incredible street art, from Derry to Dublin

Art in Ireland has always been integral to our culture-- from the Book of Kells to the Free Derry mural, our inherent need to express ourselves often finds itself materialising as a colourful, powerful statement on the side of a wall in the city.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/new-irish-documentary-will-explore-irelands-incredible-street-art-derry-dublin-175050

Sigh—Russ

7. Invaluable Irish archives burnt during 1922 civil war retrieved

Irish records once thought lost forever have been successfully recreated and will be available online by 2022.

In June 1922, a massive explosion during the Irish Civil War destroyed the Public Records Office attached to Dublin’s Four Courts. Documents representing hundreds of years of history, including 19th century census records, centuries of Church of Ireland parish records, and thousands of wills and title deeds, were destroyed in the fire.

https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/lost-irish-archive-beyond-2022?utm_campaign=Best+of+IC+-+December+8+-+2019-12-08&utm_content=Story1&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet

When they are available I’ll be looking—Russ

QUOTES, TOASTS , CURSES AND BLESSINGS

Irish whiskey was first developed for its medicinal benefits. It's just lucky for the rest of us that the Irish are such a sickly bunch.

Indeed — Russ

A BIT OF THE WIT

"Burn everything British," he once advised his Irish countrymen, "except their coal."
Jonathan Swift

JOKE OF THE MONTH

The teacher asked each of her students how they celebrated Christmas. She calls first on young Patrick O'Flaherty. "Tell me, Patrick, what do you do at Christmas time? Patrick addresses the class: "Me and my twelve brothers and sisters go to midnight Mass and we sing carols. Then we come home very late and we hang up our pillowcases at the foot of the bed. Then we go to bed and wait for Father Christmas to come with all our toys." "Very nice, Patrick," the teacher says. "Now, Billy Murphy, what do you do at Christmas?" "Me and my sister go to church with Mum and Dad, and we also sing carols. When we get home, we put biscuits and milk by the chimney and hang up our stockings. We hardly sleep waiting for Santa Claus to bring our presents." "That's also very nice, Billy," she said. Realizing that there was a Jewish boy in the class and not wanting to leave him out of the discussion, she asked him the same question. "Now, Isaac, what do you do at Christmas?" "Well, we also sing carols," Isaac responds. Surprised, the teacher questions further. "Tell us what you sing." "Well, it's the same thing every year. Dad comes home from the office. We all pile into the Rolls Royce and drive to his toy factory. When we get inside, we look at all the empty shelves and sing, 'What a friend we have in Jesus.' Then we all go to the Bahamas."

DID YOU KNOW

1. Ireland's smallest church is at Portbraden in Co. Antrim? Only ten feet long by six feet wide, the structure is dedicated to St. Gobhnan - the patron saint of builders. (huh?!)

In the interest of giving the good saint a rest?—Russ

2. St. Patrick was the first person in history to speak out against slavery and he is the Patron Saint of the Excluded? By the time of his death, or shortly thereafter, the Irish stopped slave trading and they never took it up again.

Bravo—Russ

3. Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, took a supply of Guinness with him on his travels to Samoa?

How did he keep it cool?—Russ

Sponsor

I’m my own Sponsor again this month.

Announcing the Irish Culture and Customs Book of Jokes

This is the collection of our Jokes. It was built up over many years and, now, is gathered here for your enjoyment. With this in your hand, whenever the day is dull or dreary you can open it up and have a good laugh, you'll feel better. Text Box:

Available on Amazon. Use this Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Culture-Customs-Book-Jokes/dp/1986506800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524578623&sr=8-1&keywords=irish+culture+and+customs+book+of+jokes&dpID=31oLHT0zknL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

THE WEEK THAT IS

1. Article:An Advent Memory

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Advent.html

2. Article: Yes, Kelsey & Maddie O'Flaherty, there is a Santa Claus

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XVirginiaSanta.html

3. Article: Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (BAN-ock-tee on Tay-zure) - Season's Greetings

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasGreetings.html

4. Article: An Irish Christmas - Waiting for St. Nicholas

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Xmas5th.html

5. Article: A Christmas Card Tale

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasAnPostTale.html

6. Article: Burying the Baby Jesus

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasBuryingjesus.html

7. Article: Time at this Point of the Year

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasPt_in%20Time.html

8. Article: An Irish Christmas - Ding Dong, Merrily on High...

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/XmasDingDong.html

9. The Irish Kitchen: Preparing the Puddings

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aXmasPud.html

10. Basic Irish: Advent and Christmas

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/AdventXmas.html

11. Kids’ Ireland: Midnight Visitor

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/1Kids/XmasVisit.html

So there you have it until we write again - sometime in January, in the new year (whew).

If you are planning on getting married between now and then or tied the knot in the month of December, here is your special verse:

When December’s showers fall fast,

Marry and true love will last.

And, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event between now and our next edition, we hope it's an occasion filled with joy and happiness.

We’ll take our leave with this blessing:

During the coming
Christmas season
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season,
which is peace,
The gladness of the season,
which is hope,
And the heart of the season,
which is love.

All the best & God Bless,

Bridget & Russ

Get down on your knees and thank God you’re still on your feet.

Téigh ar do ghlúine is bí buíoch le Dia go bhfuil tú fós ar do chosa.

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The Book

Potion, pope and perfidy

The second and final version is complete and available on Amazon. Text Box:

Don’t order through ‘Marketplace’ or you’ll get the first version which is incomplete. Use this link: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Potion-Pope-Perfidy-ebook/dp/B07BBVST69/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531576170&sr=1-2&keywords=russell+haggerty&dpID=61BzUIHyd2L&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

If any of you bought and read the first version, I don’t want you to pay the higher price for the second. So, send me an E-Mail at the address below and I’ll buy one for you at my author’s price and mail it to you (and, yes, I’ll sign it). Even with the postage it will save you a bit of money.

Bless you all,

Russ Haggerty

LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING

An old man in Dublin calls his son in New York right before Christmas and says, "Son, I 'm sorry, but I have to tell you that after 45 years of misery, your mother and I are busting up. " "Da, what are you talking about?" the son yells in disbelief. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "No way they're leaving each other!" she shouts, "I'll take care of this." She calls Dublin immediately and screams at her father, "You are not splitting up. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Well then," he says, "they're coming home for Christmas and paying their own way!"

Last Words

If you or anyone you know can benefit from advertising in my newsletter or the Irish Culture and Customs web site please contact me. My E-Mail address is: rhaggerty@irishcultureandcustoms.com

Thank you in advance

For all of you who have supported Irish Culture and Customs all these years – thank you.

When you start to buy anything on the internet don’t forget to go through the web Site. If you use Amazon, click on ‘Shopping’ at the top of the Irish Culture and Customs Homepage and the next page you see will have Amazon at the top. Anything you buy from Amazon through our site pays a (very small) commission. It beats a blank and it doesn’t effect your price. Thank you again.

—Russ