Twelve Days of Irish Holiday Traditions: Take stock and pause

Inspired by that traditional carol, and the funny Irish version, Christmas Countdown, we're bringing you Twelve Days of Christmas (Traditions). These Irish traditions make the season so special for so many on the Emerald Isle. You may even want to try one for yourself!

Day 6 - Take stock and pause

The days after Christmas are funny ones here in Ireland. People often speak about forgetting what day of the week it is, as the hustle and bustle of normal life is paused. St. Stephen's day on the 26th of December has the somewhat wild, hunting of the Wren. The following day, December 27th has no specific traditions to our knowledge. It’s however a good day to get your house in order, and any urgent jobs started, as nothing can begin on December 28th, the so-called “Odd Day”.

The Odd Day

Also known as ‘Lá Crostna na Bliana,’ or the cross day of the year and ‘Lá na Leanbh,’ the day of the children, the so-called ‘Odd Day’ crops up in Irish folklore collected from counties Galway and Mayo especially. Being a most unlucky day, absolutely nothing of importance was started on that day - with marriages top of mind for many people.

“The 28th of December is the odd day of the year and whatever day that date falls on, persons do not get married.”

Mary T. Cloonan, interviewing Mrs Brigit Cloona, Co. Galway. The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0038, Page 0224 © National Folklore Collection, UCD.

“No one ever gets married or does anything important on ‘the odd day of the year’..."

Annie Morgan interviewing Mrs Delaney, Co. Galway. The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0013, Page 100 © National Folklore Collection, UCD.

A day for doing nothing

So no new enterprises were started, no marriages, no building, plowing or moving house. Many sailors would not go out in their boats. The 28th was deemed to be so unlucky that it also tarnished that day of the week for the rest of the year. On the Aran Islands of the west coast, no one was buried that day or the day of the week on which the 28th fell.

“Whatever day of the week the 28th of December fell on that day every week for the following year was supposed to be most unlucky. No one would dream of getting married that day or doing any important business that could be avoided.”

Interview in Co. Mayo. The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0117, Page 160 © National Folklore Collection, UCD.

“The Day of the week on which the 28th Dec. falls is the "Odd Day". It is said that it is unlucky to begin plowing, house building or changing from one house to another on that day.”

Mary Tyrrell interviewing John Tyrrell, Co. Galway. The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0046, Page 0039 © National Folklore Collection, UCD.

How to dodge the bad luck

But what to do if you find there's something urgent to attend to on the 28th? It seems you could dodge the bad luck by starting the job before midnight on the 27th. The folklorist Caoimhín Ó Danachar reports that if a grave needed to be dug, it was started the night before.

There are even old stories of a Druid instructing their daughter not to give birth on the 28th. A brave thing to suggest to a laboring woman! But to the relief of pregnant people everywhere, there are reports elsewhere that as birth is something that can’t be put off it is an acceptable bit of work to start on the 28th.

But all this talk of bad luck has led to the 27th, the Feast of St. John, being a day for getting your house in order and stocking up for New Year's Eve. Many believed that the condition of your home on the last day of the year was how it would be for the following 12 months - a good incentive to get your home in order.

The Origins of the “Odd Day”

But just where did all this bad luck come from you may wonder? The 28th of December is also known as the feast of the Holy Innocents in the catholic calendar. It’s a “saints” day without one saint - a day that commemorates the killing of baby boys in Bethlehem ordered by King Herod. Considering it is a memorial to such an awful event, it’s hardly surprising that the 28th has such an unlucky reputation.

A Tradition continues

And given the story about the Druid and his laboring daughter, it's also possible that there are older associations with the day here in Ireland. Given the at times frenetic nature of the holidays, whatever the reason, a day to do little but take stock seems like a plan to get on board with!

And for those that don’t want to take the risk, Thursday the 28th of December is one to mark out in your calendar. And remember that every Thursday of 2024 has the potential to be unlucky! You have been warned!

What's Next?

Check back in with us tomorrow for Day 7 of our Twelve Days of Irish Christmas traditions. You might also like to see our Twelve Days of Christmas offers too!