Dear Riobard & all with Beara roots, Thank you for the Christmas traditions dear to your heart and history. I too have candles (battery driven) in red votives in the windows of our old farm house in the heart of the city. You remind me to ask my eldest family members for more memories of Christmas with family who were closer to Ireland. My uncle Jim Brady recounts that his grandfather, James T. Brady from Bear Island, would walk down to the end of the lane that connected their farmhouse to the country road. He would look out for anyone who might be walking by to invite for the meal. James T. had come to Charleston, SC with his mother during our Civil War. My guess is that he had been the guest at many tables before he had his own to share. One last chuckle. The stories about open doors and hospitality at Christmas on Beara came across my computer here in Houston the day before we had a 2 am visitor at our house. I woke to pounding on the door and looked to see a very drunken man insisting that we open up. I didn't! And he went away. But I thought of how connected we are to each other by universal experiences.welcome & unwelcome. The best of blessings at Christmas and for the year ahead.may there be more welcome guests than unwelcome ones! Victoria Harrison PS. Are there any eggnog recipes?