This photo shows wrenboys in 1947; the boys would go from house to house carrying a dead bird asking for money to "bury the wren" - Photo by Caoimhín Ó Danachair, from the National Folklore Collection

Hunting The Wren And Other Holiday Customs

The Irish have their own traditions when it comes to celebrating the Christmas season. We take a look at a few, ranging from the wrenboys to the superstitions and toasts of the New Year.

Find Out More About Irish Holiday Traditions

	An Irish postage stamp dating to 1987 features the famous three French hens, two turtle doves and partridge in a pear tree

Do The Irish Lay Claim To The Twelve Days Of Christmas?

According to some, the Irish can take credit for one of the most well known Christmas carols, and the mystery of the song's unusual “gifts” may even be rooted in Ireland’s religious past.
An Irish stamp from 1987 featuring three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

>Uncover The Mystery Of This Christmas Carol

Try Winter In Ireland After three trips to Ireland in the summer, we decided to try a visit in the winter. We had a completely different experience on that trip. We slowed down and spent more time with the locals making new friends, and we saved a bundle in airfare. Will - Billings, MT More Tips

	Irish Christmas Pudding

Our friends at www.dochara.com share their recipes for traditional irish Christmas Pudding and Christmas Cake. We like these recipes because they're moist, rich and have just enough spice and Irish Whiskey.

Check Out The Christmas Cake Recipe
Check Out The Christmas Pudding Recipe

Turn Off The Flash A fellow traveler on my last trip to Ireland revealed the secret to getting dramatic photos in churches. She showed me how to turn off the flash on my digital camera. Then, because even the slightest movement will end up with blurry photos, she showed me how to prop the camera on something steady, like a pew or column...or better yet a tripod, to avoid the blur. - CJ, Milwaukee, WI More Tips

	A shard of Irish Belleek china has been transformed into a piece of jewelry by artist and podcast host Liam Hughes

The internet is bustling with retailers selling your favorite Irish wares – be it crystal,tweeds, jewelry, music or knick-knacks; but online technology has also given independent artists and entrepreneurs the opportunity to introduce their goods to an entirely new audience. This holiday season, we’re sharing our favorite online sites for truly unique gift ideas with an Irish connection.

Discover Our Finds For Unusual Irish-Related Gifts

Explore On Foot Most of the main sights of Dublin are situated in a comparatively small area. To get a good impression of this lively and historic city you only need to take a walk. Bernd Blege, www.about.com More Tips

	Pat Liddy

Fireside Chat With Pat Liddy

This month, the Irish Fireside chats with acclaimed Dublin Historian, author and artist, Pat Liddy. The Dublin native shares some ideas on how to spend your holiday in Ireland and reveals a bit about himself.

Read Our Interview With Pat Liddy

Fly Direct I was thrilled when I found tickets that saved me $75 each just for including a connecting flight. After 18 hours in airports and planes, my husband and I wished we had paid the extra money to fly direct from Chicago to Shannon. - Gary and Rhonna, Algoma, WI More Tips

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