Narada Presents

The Best of

Celtic Christmas   

Various Artists

• Two CD Gift Set

TRACKS:
  DISC ONE
  1.  It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
          Cathie Ryan
  2.  Christ Child's Lullabye
          Kathy Mattea
  3.  Christmastime In Ashland
          Cormac Breatnach and

          Martin Dunlea
  4.  Nowel: Owt of your slepe aryse
          Anonymous 4
  5.  The Mummer's Jig/Christmas

       Eve
          Boys of the Lough
  6.  Get Me Through December
          Natalie MacMaster
  7.  I Saw Three Ships
          Maddy Prior and

          the Carnival Band
  8.  Silent Night
          Mairi MacInnes and

          William Jackson
  9.  The Snowy Path
          Altan
10.  Away In A Manger
          El McMeen
11.  Nouel
          Ensemble Choral du Bout du  

          Monde
12.  Ding Dong Merrily on High
          Frankie Gavin with the Carl

          Hession Orchestra
13.  Ceol NaNolag
          John Whelan
14.  Seacht Suáilcí na Maighdine 

       Muire
          Aoife Ní Fhearraigh
15.  Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye

       Faithful)
          Bonnie Rideout

  DISC TWO: THE NIGHT BEFORE 

  ...A CELTIC CHRISTMAS by

       Dordán
  1.  Enniscorthy Christmas Carol
  2.  Leanbh Ghil Mhilis (Bright Sweet

       Child)
  3.  Christmas Eve Reel (Tommy

       Coen's Reel)
  4.  Mistletoe Waltz
  5.  Draíocht na hOíche (The Magic

       Of The Night
  6.  Winter Solstice
  7.  Oíche Nollag (Christmas Eve)
  8.  March of the Dreoilín
  9.  Oíche Chiúin
10.  Fáilte An Fhánaí (The Wayfarer's

       Welcome)
11.  Don Oíche Úd í mBeithil

       (Because Of A Night In 

       Bethlehem)
12.  Polly In The Holly
13.  The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
14.  Ding Dong Merrily on High
15.  Shades Of Auld Lang Syne

A 2-CD gift set, THE BEST OF CELTIC CHRISTMAS features many treasured holiday melodies - from festive reels and jigs to airs brimming with nostalgia and sentiment - performed by many of Celtic music's brightest stars.

Includes special bonus CD! THE NIGHT BEFORE...A CELTIC CHRISTMAS by Dordán.

~

Christmas (An Nollaig) in Ireland is a time for family, reunion, and remembrance of loved ones. But most of all, it is a joyous celebration - an occasion of festive parties filled with carols, food, song, and age-old traditions.

Preparations for the holidays start early with cards and decorations in shop windows appearing as early as October. Plum pudding, the traditional Christmas day dessert, is made at about this time as it takes weeks to fully set. Soon, children begin counting the days until Christmas with advent calendars; trees are brought into homes and decorated; and houses - inside and out - are festively adorned with holly, ivy, and garlands.

On Christmas Even, the story of Joseph and Mary searching for shelter that night so long ago is honored. After the evening meal, most families light a brightly-burning candle in a front window, letting the weary travelers know that theirs is a welcoming place to stay. Often, the table is set with bread and milk while the door is left unlatched awaiting the Holy Family.

With carolers in the streets, revelers on St. Stephen's Day, and gatherings at home, music fills the air. Festive jigs and reflective, poignant songs evoke memories, sentiment, and the wonder of an eternally magical time.