Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve Traditions

It's the first day of the Christmas holidays and I am fortunate to have a quite a long break until 2nd January 2014. Yesterday was a very quiet day at work with most colleagues electing to take the day off. I had some grading still to do, but did not quite get it finished. Christmas shopping is now done, I picked up the turkey from my Uncle Paddy and Cousin Anna in PM O'Loughlin Foods in Shankill where it was already very busy at 9.30 in the morning. 

It's off to Carnew in south Co Wicklow this afternoon to see my Mum and Dad - this is part of our Christmas tradition going back 22 years. Not since 1990 have I seen them on Christmas Day, after this we spent Christmas in our own house in Dublin. Another tradition is slowing down and looking at the Christmas lights on houses on the way back from Carnew to Dublin. We especially like the road between Rathdrum and Glenealy.

Since I joined the St John the Baptist Choir in Blackrock, Christmas Eve has been rather sober - this is my third Christmas with the choir. We have the vigil Mass this evening at 9 o'clock, and the main Christmas Day Mass tomorrow at 12 o'clock. We have been practising hard over the past few weeks with hymns and carols in Latin, German, and English for the Christmas season. 

Merry Christmas to all my friends, family, colleagues, and students who read this blog!

2 comments:

  1. Happy Christmas Eugene - have a good and peaceful break

    -Markus

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  2. Merry Christmas Eugene to you and your family. Here's to a good 2014 may your blog continue to educate, entertain and cause us to ponder. Oh and also give us time for that pint!

    - Kieran H

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