DURING the week I heard Merle Haggard's song If We Make It Through December, written and first performed by the American musician and his band in 1973.
The chorus lines, "If we make it through December/everything's gonna be alright, I know", express his hope that better times would come with the arrival of January, named from Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings and representing passage through a new gateway.
On the eve of the new year, after the busyness and hype of Christmas, wren boy processions on Stephen's Day or Lá an Dreoilín (Wren Day), his words seem appropriate.
Watching some female birds scramble about competing for food with their male counterparts around the bird table, did however remind me that a significant day in the festive season is yet to be celebrated - the twelfth and final day of Christmas, January 6, known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan, 'Women's Christmas' or 'Little Christmas'.
As a reward for their hard work all year and over the Christmas season, it was traditionally a day off from all housework for women and roles were reversed in the home, with men doing the work while ladies rested and gathered with friends and neighbours to enjoy tea and the last of Christmas cakes, or an evening out together.
Throughout the wider Christian community this day is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany when the infant Jesus was visited by the three Wise Kings and revealed to the world.
The female species which caught my eye included blackbirds, chaffinches, and sparrows, with softer brown tones, holding their own as they wrangled for spilled seed or nuts.
I suspected there would be no 'little Christmas' for these birds, just the usual battle to survive on a typical January day. The tradition of celebrating little Christmas was particularly strong in Cork and Kerry, where house and cooking duties were taken on by men for the day with women often going out to celebrate with their friends, sisters, mothers and aunts.
Listening to some archival recordings from RTÉ Radio 1, involving commentary from author and researcher Marion McGarry, was a valuable instruction about the roots and rituals of the day.
Among many curious beliefs associated with the date was the notion all 'well' water throughout Ireland was said to change into wine at midnight on Little Christmas. Going out to observe this curious phenomenon or sample the well water was not permitted as very bad luck would follow.
Also on this day, mothers in some parts were said to rub the tail of a herring across the eyes of their children to give immunity against disease for the rest of the year. While Christmas decorations were taken down at this time and put away for another year, holly sprigs were retained for Shrove Tuesday, when they would be used in the fire for cooking pancakes.
Another unusual custom was that the floor should be swept, and a bucket of clean water left ready before going to bed on the night, water which could not be used in the morning.
While the tradition of acknowledging Women's Christmas died out by the mid 20th century, it has undergone a revival, especially in southwestern counties, where on this date, hotels and restaurants advertise ladies' afternoon teas and evenings out. A tradition well worth reviving.
Meanwhile, back to my hungry birds; I especially enjoyed watching one of the female chaffinches chasing off and chastising a male who dared try to thieve some seed she was about to enjoy.
Happy New Year, agus bain sult as Nollaig na mBan.
