Santa Claus, family, trees, turkey and presents are just a few of the elements that make up Christmas celebrations today. But while some traditions are thriving, others are struggling to keep up with the changing times.
Tracey Donaghey talks to three generations of her own family to see what traditions have been lost and what have stood the test of time.
Rita Donaghey
As a child, Christmas day would start before the sun had risen for Rita. Born into a family of 12 in Craigbane, Co Derry, she and her siblings were called from bed by their parents as mass was the first priority.
“On Christmas morning when you got out of bed it would have still been dark outside and you went to mass. When I was young, it would have been more religion-based than Christmas is now. Everybody went to mass on Christmas day,” says Rita.
Growing up in the ’50s, one might assume that Rita did not know the luxury of receiving extravagant gifts as a young girl, but the definition of extravagant would have been very different from today.
“The best gift I received was from my neighbour who lived up the road from me. He was a Scotch man and he used to go to Scotland to work. He came home one Christmas and brought me back a doll with a bath. I remember it had little taps on it,” says Rita.
“There was so many in my family that there were no big presents but you would have got a gift from your godmother and Santa would have brought a few presents too.”
Rita vividly remembers the excitement as she made preparations for the big day.
“We would have hung up our stockings on the fireplace and we would have got an orange, an apple and a six pence wrapped up in paper,” says Rita.
“We would have had chicken for dinner, there was no turkey when I was a girl. We would have had plum pudding for afters, which mammy would have made, and she would have made her Christmas cake as well.”
Rita enjoys quality family time at Christmas
The social aspect is a common trait of the festive celebrations but it is a modern one?
“We wouldn’t have visited much at Christmas. No one went to dances, everyone stayed at home on Christmas night and had a party at home with family. Mummy always had a party at home on Christmas night.”
Rita recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with retired dairy farmer, John Donaghey. The pair reside on the outskirts of Donamanagh in Co Tyrone. Together they have reared five children and have 14 grandchildren, ensuring that Rita has witnessed first-hand the significant change in Christmas through the generations.
“It has become too materialistic where the shops are concerned. The gifts that the children receive now, I think that it has got out of hand. The length of their lists is crazy,” says Rita.
“Although I will say that the decorations and the Christmas trees are lovely, we never had a Christmas tree.”
For Rita, the festive season means quality family time and that is one tradition that has not changed for her over the decades. This year is particularly special as her youngest child, Sarah-Jane, has returned from Sydney with her husband and two young daughters. This will be her first Christmas at home with the family in 14 years.
“For me, Christmas means family time, that is what makes Christmas such a happy time,” says Rita.
Clare Duncan
“Christmas means time off for me,” laughs Clare, Rita’s eldest daughter.
Clare is mother to two teenage daughters, ensuring that she, too, has not missed out on the most significant alteration of Christmas.“The biggest change that I have noticed is that there are more presents. There wasn’t nearly as much hype around buying presents, nothing like that, when we were growing up,” says Clare.
Mass remained the centre piece of the occasion throughout Clare’s childhood, as Rita ushered Clare and her four siblings out to the church.
“We would have gone to midnight mass at Christmas, and we’d have left out milk and biscuits for Santa before we went.”
Clare reminisces of the gifts that Santa brought
Santa made a visit to the Donaghey residence every year. Clare’s good behaviour was always rewarded and it was evident that the gifts were slowly beginning to morph. “I remember I got a doll in a pram one Christmas,” outlines Clare.“The best present Santa brought me was a teddy bear with a red heart that played music. One of my brothers got an airplane set that you had to build and the other got a construction track.”
Once the presents were opened, it was time to start dinner. Rita is renowned for her cooking abilities, and Christmas dinner was a highlight of the day for Clare.
“We always had turkey with spuds, sprouts, carrots, all the usual vegetables,” explains Clare.“In the evening after dinner, we visited granny, which we did every year. We wouldn’t have gone out much at Christmas because the problem was always getting home again.”
Aimee Duncan
The religious aspect remains a traditional part of Aimee’s Christmas experience.
“We always go to mass on Christmas Eve,” says Aimee. “I like going to mass on Christmas Eve because then you don’t have to go in the morning.”
Born in 2005, Aimee represents a new generation who will never know Christmas without the extravagance of posting gifts on social media.
“I think of presents when someone says Christmas,” says Aimee. “I got Lego, an iPad, a wii console, and a phone for Christmas before. My favourite present was X Factor Live tickets.”
Traditions have surely come and gone, but Santa Claus has not lost his pride of place on the Christmas podium, and once his presents are ripped open and the floor cannot be seen under the shiny wrapping paper, dinner is next on the list.
“Mummy does the turkey,” explains Aimee. “And we have stuffing, potatoes and vegetables. I love Christmas dinner.”
Aimee is looking forward to the festive celebrations
Fun Christmas facts
• The Christmas Tree originates from German traditions and became fashionable here in the 1800s.• The first commercial Christmas card was created by the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Henry Cole, in 1843.• Turkey was only introduced in Ireland in the early 1900s, mainly from England.• Although mince pies are now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.• The Beatles hold the record for most Christmas number 1 singles, topping the charts in 1963, 65 and 67.Forgotten Christmas traditions
Irish Country Living's Christmas quiz
Santa Claus, family, trees, turkey and presents are just a few of the elements that make up Christmas celebrations today. But while some traditions are thriving, others are struggling to keep up with the changing times.
Tracey Donaghey talks to three generations of her own family to see what traditions have been lost and what have stood the test of time.
Rita Donaghey
As a child, Christmas day would start before the sun had risen for Rita. Born into a family of 12 in Craigbane, Co Derry, she and her siblings were called from bed by their parents as mass was the first priority.
“On Christmas morning when you got out of bed it would have still been dark outside and you went to mass. When I was young, it would have been more religion-based than Christmas is now. Everybody went to mass on Christmas day,” says Rita.
Growing up in the ’50s, one might assume that Rita did not know the luxury of receiving extravagant gifts as a young girl, but the definition of extravagant would have been very different from today.
“The best gift I received was from my neighbour who lived up the road from me. He was a Scotch man and he used to go to Scotland to work. He came home one Christmas and brought me back a doll with a bath. I remember it had little taps on it,” says Rita.
“There was so many in my family that there were no big presents but you would have got a gift from your godmother and Santa would have brought a few presents too.”
Rita vividly remembers the excitement as she made preparations for the big day.
“We would have hung up our stockings on the fireplace and we would have got an orange, an apple and a six pence wrapped up in paper,” says Rita.
“We would have had chicken for dinner, there was no turkey when I was a girl. We would have had plum pudding for afters, which mammy would have made, and she would have made her Christmas cake as well.”
Rita enjoys quality family time at Christmas
The social aspect is a common trait of the festive celebrations but it is a modern one?
“We wouldn’t have visited much at Christmas. No one went to dances, everyone stayed at home on Christmas night and had a party at home with family. Mummy always had a party at home on Christmas night.”
Rita recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with retired dairy farmer, John Donaghey. The pair reside on the outskirts of Donamanagh in Co Tyrone. Together they have reared five children and have 14 grandchildren, ensuring that Rita has witnessed first-hand the significant change in Christmas through the generations.
“It has become too materialistic where the shops are concerned. The gifts that the children receive now, I think that it has got out of hand. The length of their lists is crazy,” says Rita.
“Although I will say that the decorations and the Christmas trees are lovely, we never had a Christmas tree.”
For Rita, the festive season means quality family time and that is one tradition that has not changed for her over the decades. This year is particularly special as her youngest child, Sarah-Jane, has returned from Sydney with her husband and two young daughters. This will be her first Christmas at home with the family in 14 years.
“For me, Christmas means family time, that is what makes Christmas such a happy time,” says Rita.
Clare Duncan
“Christmas means time off for me,” laughs Clare, Rita’s eldest daughter.
Clare is mother to two teenage daughters, ensuring that she, too, has not missed out on the most significant alteration of Christmas.“The biggest change that I have noticed is that there are more presents. There wasn’t nearly as much hype around buying presents, nothing like that, when we were growing up,” says Clare.
Mass remained the centre piece of the occasion throughout Clare’s childhood, as Rita ushered Clare and her four siblings out to the church.
“We would have gone to midnight mass at Christmas, and we’d have left out milk and biscuits for Santa before we went.”
Clare reminisces of the gifts that Santa brought
Santa made a visit to the Donaghey residence every year. Clare’s good behaviour was always rewarded and it was evident that the gifts were slowly beginning to morph. “I remember I got a doll in a pram one Christmas,” outlines Clare.“The best present Santa brought me was a teddy bear with a red heart that played music. One of my brothers got an airplane set that you had to build and the other got a construction track.”
Once the presents were opened, it was time to start dinner. Rita is renowned for her cooking abilities, and Christmas dinner was a highlight of the day for Clare.
“We always had turkey with spuds, sprouts, carrots, all the usual vegetables,” explains Clare.“In the evening after dinner, we visited granny, which we did every year. We wouldn’t have gone out much at Christmas because the problem was always getting home again.”
Aimee Duncan
The religious aspect remains a traditional part of Aimee’s Christmas experience.
“We always go to mass on Christmas Eve,” says Aimee. “I like going to mass on Christmas Eve because then you don’t have to go in the morning.”
Born in 2005, Aimee represents a new generation who will never know Christmas without the extravagance of posting gifts on social media.
“I think of presents when someone says Christmas,” says Aimee. “I got Lego, an iPad, a wii console, and a phone for Christmas before. My favourite present was X Factor Live tickets.”
Traditions have surely come and gone, but Santa Claus has not lost his pride of place on the Christmas podium, and once his presents are ripped open and the floor cannot be seen under the shiny wrapping paper, dinner is next on the list.
“Mummy does the turkey,” explains Aimee. “And we have stuffing, potatoes and vegetables. I love Christmas dinner.”
Aimee is looking forward to the festive celebrations
Fun Christmas facts
• The Christmas Tree originates from German traditions and became fashionable here in the 1800s.• The first commercial Christmas card was created by the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Henry Cole, in 1843.• Turkey was only introduced in Ireland in the early 1900s, mainly from England.• Although mince pies are now mostly vegetarian, in Victorian times, mince pies were made with beef and spices.• The Beatles hold the record for most Christmas number 1 singles, topping the charts in 1963, 65 and 67.Forgotten Christmas traditions
Irish Country Living's Christmas quiz
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