Little Christmas

Little Christmas or Nollaig Bheag in Irish 

means January 6 in Ireland. It is more

commonly known as Epiphany in other parts

of the world.

January 6, the end of the Christmas season

in my Irish-American childhood:

the tree put out to the curb

wrapping paper and bows stored

new clothes hung with care

the party was over.

January 6 is also known as

Nollaig na mBan (Women's Christmas).

so called because Irish men 

men do the chores

and the women go out to party.

A rural custom the

 concept is being revived

in urban areas in Ireland

and Great Britain.

Children give their mother's gifts

much like Mother's Day.

Now I tell you isn't that a grand

bit of wisdom for a chilly January

morning?

Now my own personal tradition

is to say a prayer to

the saint of delivery that the

late finished bit of knitting arrives

by January sixth to bless the lucky

recipient before we fall headlong

into the new year. 

A wee party, a small gift-

a new skein of wool-

sure, the day isn't over yet

let's enjoy January 6.