Christmas is only a few sleeps away. We can’t wait! Families have taken the decorations out of the attic and have dusted them off.
All the children around the world are running up the walls with excitement because the big man in red is coming – yes, Santa Clause. In school we have two weeks of holidays, thank God.
Christmas in Ireland is special. A few weeks before the 25th all the children stay up late to watch the Toy Show. People go Christmas shopping in Christmas decorated towns. The excitement is building up with all the carol singing and people coming back to Ireland from different countries.
But there is one place in Ireland that is really special to us – Windgap. There is a lot going on in Windgap for Christmas. We had the Bazaar on Sunday 8th. On Christmas Eve there will be a children’s Mass in Windgap at 6pm. We are making hand-made Christmas cards. The best ones will be put up on windgap.ie. All of them will be displayed in the Parochial House on Christmas Day.
On Christmas morning we get up about 6 a.m. to look at our presents. The excitement of looking under the Christmas tree, fully decorated, and finding presents! It’s brilliant seeing them for the first time. At around 2pm most families have dinner with our grandparents. Then in the evening all the rest of the family come over. In Steven’s house they are very excited because it is the first Christmas that his niece, Ruby understands about Christmas.
On St Stephen’s Day at 11.30 a.m. there is a walk to work off the turkey. It starts at the GAA pitch. You can run, walk or jog it.
Some families have lots of visitors for Christmas. They have a lot of fun together. Others like to stay inside and sit in front of the fire and hope for snow for Christmas. Neighbours call for a chat.
Lots of families have their own Christmas traditions. Kris Kindle is a new tradition in Ireland, where you buy someone a present and they don’t know who got it for them (until you tell them!). All the children in Garryricken make gingerbread on the last day of school before Christmas. Heather’s family began a new tradition three years ago by carol singing for Chernobyl. It is important to give your time to those less fortunate than us. Her family are also beginning a new tradition this year by going to the Caiseal to witness the winter solstice.
Best wishes from Windgap NS to you all, whether you are at home or away from Windgap this Christmas.