‘Laa Nollick Beg’: Little Xmas in the Isle of Man. Old Xmas for some, Nollick na mBan in Ireland. The 6th of January is celebrated in various of the Celtic countries.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Christmas
RTE has an analysis here:
“The twelfth and final day of Christmas, January 6th, was known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan or Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas. As a reward for their hard work over the Christmas season, it was a day off from all house work for women and traditional roles were supposed to be reversed in the home: men did the women’s work in the house while women rested and gathered together informally.”
https://www.rte.ie/…/1103975-the-roots-and-traditions…/
Irish Central links it to ‘Irish Goddesses’ (well the American Celts always do like a bit of mysticism) and they are having a gathering by ‘Zoom’: https://www.irishcentral.com/…/nollaig-na-mban-event…
Image: This from Irish central depicts the Irish goddess Airmid. In Irish mythology, the goddess Airmed (also given as Airmid) was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. So look out there could be a few goddesses around tomorrow! Merry old Xmas!
Bernard Moffatt
AGS Celtic League (5th January 2022)
