J.M.J.
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Hello, Friend! Nannie here!
‘Tis truly wonder-ful when Christmastime comes!
Finney, as you know, loves to share the things that St. Patrick taught… St. Patrick taught of the birth of little Baby Jesus… The Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 1, tells us that “the angel of the Lord” appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David…it is through the Holy Spirit that this Child” will be born to Mary. “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.” When Mary bore a son, “he named him Jesus.”
The Gospel of St. Luke, Chapter 2, tells us, “And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
There is always fun info at http://www.libraryireland.com. John Johnson Marshall in his Popular Rhymes and Sayings of Ireland (1924), tells us of the “Christmas Rhymers!” “In the north of Ireland as Christmas drew near it was customary to get up a company of Rhymers who went round the shops and private dwellings reciting their rhymes and collecting money. These were the latter day descendants of the mummers of olden times, who at times of festivity played their pranks for the amusement of their fellows as well as their own.”
John Francis Maguire in his The Irish In America (1868), tells us that “The great festivals of Christmas and Easter are specially dear to the Irish heart, being associated with the most sacred mysteries of the Christian religion, and likewise with those modest enjoyments with which the family, however humble or poor, seek to celebrate a season of spiritual rejoicing.
Then there is joy in the Church, which typifies in the decorations of her altars as in the robes of her ministers the gladness which should dwell in the heart of the Christian. Thus misery, and sorrow, and want, are not in accordance with the spirit of these solemn festivals, nor with the feelings which ought to prevail with those who believe in their teaching.”
I sincerely pray for your Peace and Joy during this precious time of Advent!
God bless you and thank you for stopping by!
The Adventures of Finney the Leprechaun 
I read installments #72 and #73 and must say they were fine readings. Potatties? now that is a new one. And a spray of gold dust I did see underneath our pine tree. Hmmm……….
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Nannie! You’re a Rhymer!
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Ahhh…nice thought! The mention of the fact that the rhymers are thought to be traced back to the “mummers of olden times” causes me to mention that Bridget Haggerty wrote an article called “Mumming – a Yuletide Tradition” (can be found at http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com). Bridget tells us that “the masked tradition of ‘mumming’ in Ulster is said to date back 2500 years. In the ancient annals of Ulster, men in tall conical masks are mentioned as chief entertainers to King Conor, who lived at the royal fort of Emain Macha.” (Emain Macha is the Navan Fort in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, from which the ancient Kings of Ulster ruled. http://www.armagh.co.uk) Bridget also gives examples of a few typical verses. Her article is such an interesting read!
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Why, thank you, kind Poppie! I think ’twas Finney’s gold dust you saw! He likes it under the pine trees!
Now YOU must be familiar with potatties, as you are an old hand at Irish potato chuckles!
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