Christmas - Candle - card

The Christmas candle has been a long time tradition in Ireland and was seen as a light to welcome the stranger. In ancient Ireland, light was a symbol of renewal in the darkness, as witnessed when the dawn rays enter the chamber of Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) in the winter solstice. The grandmother represents the wisdom of the old year, passing on her knowledge to the young and indeed in our ancient folklore, the Cailleach, was a Goddess of winter, the wise sovereign Goddess who passed her baton to Brigid in the Spring.

Illustration from an original by Margaret McKenna