In The Mood For Celtic Holiday Music

Celebrating a Celtic Christmas with Music

Dylan Thomas A Child's Christmas

Begin with listening to a recording of The Thistle and Shamrock: Nollaig. Enjoy this holiday soundtrack from NPR. Enter the spirit of a traditional Scottish, Irish and Welsh Yuletide with special guest Cerys Matthews, Eileen Ivers and Anuna joining Fiona Richie. Hear Matthews read from her album A Child's Christmas. Click on the image to buy the CD.  Click Here to listen to the NPR program.

The carol "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" belongs to the Advent Season since it celebrates the expectation of Christ's coming rather than His actual birth. Celtic Advent is always Nov. 15-Dec. 24 Observance begins at Sunset on Nov. 14 and ends on December 24th at sundown, the beginning of Christmas Eve. Enjoy this video:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
by Enya 

 

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An Irish Christmas by Moya Brennan

An Irish Christmas  by Moya Brennan  I just recently discovered this album by way of Pandora. If you like the Christmas Classics, you may like this album. Listen to clips of this album on Amazon and purchase it if you like it. Click the image to check it out.  

What reminds us of Christmas tradition more than a yule log burning in the hearth. This video includes two dogs sitting in front of the glowing holiday fire, periodically moving in and out of shot. The crackling of the log fire will be sure to get you excited for the festivities of Christmas.  

    An Irish Christmas Blessing For You Click Here If you want to learn more about Celtic Christmas Click Here     Want to know about Christmas in Wales Click Here 

Edited 5/1/17

Celebrating A Celtic Christmas

c pts images

An Irish Christmas Blessing

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

Many people don't realize that a lot of the customs we use to celebrate Christmas are deeply rooted in Celtic Culture, which is much older than the Christian tradition.

Advent Wreath, Holly and Christmas Trees come from Celtic traditions. Maybe you will want to celebrate a Celtic Christmas. To learn more click Celebrating A Celtic Christmas.

edited 12/23/15

An Irish Blessing For Christmas

May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!

May you always walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.

~~Irish Blessing

image CC St Malachy's Roman Catholic Church,
Alfred Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, May 2010 by Ardfern