In the summer of 1990, Danny O'Flaherty met with Welsh harpist, Robin James-Jones, to discuss the feasibility of creating a Christmas program that encompassed customs, stories and songs from each of the seven Celtic nations: Eire (Ireland), Alba (Scotland), Cymru (Wales), Kernow (Cornwall), Breizh (Brittany), Mannin (The Isle of Man), and Gallaecia (Galicia). Within these Celtic communities, the yuletide season was a time for families to gather as did their ancestors, the clansmen and women throughout the centuries. Danny and Robin knew it would be an enormous undertaking because nothing like it had ever before been attempted, but it was a labor of love and conscience for both men.
As Christianity spread across the western world, it absorbed many existing "pagan" practices by linking the festivities of the winter solstice with the advent of the nativity. While each of the Celtic countries incorporated the Druid's respect for fire and sacred evergreens into their Christmas landscape, and revelry and good spirits were widespread, each of the Celtic nations developed their own distinct traditions: The Irish and the Manx hunted the Wren; the Welsh followed the Grey Mare; the Cornish had a Kissing Bush; the Britons anticipated the arrival of the infant Jesus down the chimney; and the Scots awaited the First Footer (New Year) to determine their fortunes.
Hours of exhaustive research went into the project, and by December 1990, Danny and Robin had put together what they considered a beautiful and entertaining program. The ultimate goal for the development of the Celtic Christmas program was to honor the traditions and to encourage the celebrations for present and future generations. Nervous and excited, they premiered the Celtic Christmas program to delighted audiences and rave reviews.
In an interview with Hector San Miguel for The American Press, Danny explained: "This is our true story. Music is a way of uniting all these Celtic tribes that have been separated for centuries." The program became a popular annual tradition.
Three years later, in 1993, a half-hour version of the show premiered on the PBS affiliate WLAE-TV in New Orleans and was soon picked up by other PBS affiliates around the country. In 2004, the Celtic Christmas was televised by Louisiana Public Broadcasting at McNeese University in Lake Charles.
Danny O'Flaherty's Celtic Christmas does indeed capture the essence of all the treasured Celtic yuletide customs. The program features actors, Michael Cahill and Janet Shea, along with many talented and dedicated musicians, singers and dancers who come together to present this one-of-a-kind performance.
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