Summary: Celtic Christmas culture with the Irish Fireside. Episode Guide – Podcast #98 More Christmas in Ireland and a Chat with Stone Carver Sam Bates In this audio podcast episode, we cover more Irish holiday traditions and chat with Sam Bates, an artist featured in our Holiday Gift Guide for his Celtic knotwork stone carvings. Show Notes 00:00 “Once in Royal David’s City” a Christmas hymn sung a capella by Liam and written by Ireland’s Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander in the late 1800s (background version performed by Leonard Bernstein, Mormon Tabernacle Choir & New York Philharmonic) 01:50 Bridget Haggerty’s www.irishcultureandcustoms.com article An Irish Christmas – Ding Dong Merrily On High featuring “The Wexford Carol,” “Curoo Curoo” (the Carol of the Birds) and “Once in Royal David’s City.” 02:10 Christmas Superstitions 03:50 Reader/Listener-Submitted Stories Light on the Darkest Day – The Winter Solstice at the Passage Tomb at Newgrange A Frosty Visit to Glendalough 04:25 Holiday Gift Guide 04:45 Holiday Giveaway 05:05 Stonecarver Sam Bates www.carvedstonebysambates.com
