Was walking in town after work, last Friday night. It was busy all right. Crazy actually. It’s getting more and more clear that those Irish people are mad about Christmas. Like everyone in Europe I guess…nothing weird there. The thing is…the Irish…are unbelievably organised about it. And that’s news for sure. ‘Cause all who are following my “adventures” in Ireland through this blog, know that the average Irish citizen is everything but organised. They don’t really get the “time” concept, they don’t take “rules” too serious and they definitely don’t stress out for things that can be done tomorrow as well.
Except what Christmas concerns so. I overheard at least three different conversations last Friday night. All about the same thing: “have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?” Don’t be shocked now…but the answer was in all cases the same….YES!!!!! I met some guys, young fellows six weeks ago and they already discussed what they were going to give for Christmas….to the neighbours (a box of biscuits for the nice ones, something more nasty for the others). That was in October!
At the end of November, the greater part of Irish population has accomplished the big Christmas mission: spending loads and loads of money on I-pods, mobile phones, X-boxes, perfumes, ties, computers, cud’s etc…And marketing knows that…where all the ads and brochures and flysheets and special offers were about presents the last couple of weeks, there is a clear trend noticeable from the first week of December on…because after present shopping the next challenge rises up….food!!!!!It’s all turkey, ham, pudding and chocolate nowadays. You would be stupid (or not having a big freezer) to wait buying your turkey, if you can get it now for half the price.
After the food comes the “what am I going to wear?” issue. Girls and women are already discussing what to wear for the Christmas work party. Pressure is huuuuge. It’s all glitter and glamour…and black…the only colour in the windows is black…very convenient for me so…although I’m a bit worried about the glitter aspect…definitely have to work on that. Haven’t solved the shoe-issue yet either.
You’re expected to already know what to give, what to eat, what to wear. Preferably all worked out in a tight schedule, knowing how many people you’re inviting, what time they’re coming, where they’re sitting at the table, …
Christmas fever so….Tracy and I are the only ones staying in the house with Christmas and so far we resisted going with the stream…but last night…we got our very own real Christmas tree!!!!!After all it is December now. We invited some other kiwi’s over to help decorating. Great fun. We have the whole lot: the baubles, angel’s hair, lights and even…fake snow. Tracy put a Santa Claus and some bright lights in front of her window as well. We even started planning Christmas lunch. At our place, with five other kiwi’s. Everyone will bring something to eat. We’ll organise a Secret Santa. YIEPIE.
Mum, dad, sisters, do you start understanding now why I really wanted to spend Christmas in Ireland? It’s just a unique opportunity I didn’t want to miss!!! Christmas in Ireland is just so much more fun than back at home. It all started last week with “switching on of the Christmas lights in Cork City”. Than there is the Solas festival of Lights, celebrating the return of light according to the old Celtic tradition. There is Christmas Eve, when all Ireland goes mad (a Santa Claus hat is a must that nite), because the next day all pubs will be closed. There is St. Stephens day (second Christmas day), everyone going mad because the pubs are open again. After that the countdown to 2006, with major fire works just around the corner. And it all finishes on the 6th January, with Little Christmas (Nollaig na mBan), when the Irish men take on all the household duties and give their spouses a day off (wonder if we should tell our male flatmates about this ;-P. It’s the day when the long-suffering Mná na hEireann (women of Ireland) go out to relax and celebrate together. YIPIE….ISN’T LIVE IN IRELAND JUST WONDERFULLLL?????
