Winter Wishes

I have only ever been blessed with the opportunity to travel abroad in the winter months once: My very first experience abroad.

Ireland.

While I was there, I was able to experience all of my most favorite holidays: Halloween (a bit different from at home... For one, the candy is often unwrapped and people don't stick pins in the Tootsie Rolls), Thanksgiving (our host mom was the best and made us a Thanksgiving meal despite the fact that there were no Native Americans coerced into sharing their land in Ireland), and Christmas (actually, I was there up until the week before Christmas, but same thing).

So, while Halloween and Thanksgiving were nice... I quickly learned that the Irish take Christmas most seriously. Especially with town centre decór.

Everything becomes even more adorable along the cobblestoned streets with perfectly strung Christmas lights and garland.

It was like a movie.

...every year since my first visit to the Emerald Isle, I like to reminisce about the times when my friend and I would brave the cold and hustle down the street to the nearest pub to listen to the local musicians. They wouldn't brandish electric guitars or synthesizers; instead they masterfully played flutes, fiddles, and bodhráns. And they wouldn't have a set list... they'd just know what to play and play it well. The remaining pub population would respectfully listen to the music, and if the song called for it, they'd sing the vocals. It was magical and beautiful every. single. time.

This bonfire-esque camaraderie happens all year long in pubs across the country painted in 40 shades of green; however, no time is as majestic than the holiday season.

Ennis, Ireland 2010

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Yeah, so this is a shorter post, but with a larger sentiment:

I wish anyone who reads this little blog (and those who don't) a happy holiday!

Winter break suggestion: If you are looking for something cozy and fun to do... find your own local Irish pub, look up when they have live traditional music, bundle up and hustle over to that pub and enjoy.

...But if it starts gettin' real cold, you can always blast the Pogue's "Fairy Tale of New York" instead. Seriously. Best Christmas song ever created, though I may be biased because I will forever associate it as my exit music from Ireland. As my host mom drove me to Shannon Airport to go back home to spend the holidays with my family, that's the beautiful song that filled the car. Ah, memories <3

credit: Youtube, The Pogues

Skål xx and Sláinte xx

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