IRISH CULTURE

The Christmas day swim has been taking place in Ireland for over 40 years and has become a popular tradition with thousands of people taking to the cold Irish waters. The event is known for its uniqueness and how it raises money for charity!

Here is a picture of some Irish children showing what people of Irish culture usually wear. They wear green usually with their traditional outfits. Boys wear linen driving caps and vests and kilts. Girls wear dresses.

Here is a picture of what adults in the Irish culture wear. They wear the same things that the children wear

-Music and dance in Ireland-
Up to the 1960’s, Irish music still had as its main setting the houses and pubs of rural areas, and music was played mainly to be danced to. The main instruments are the harp and bagpipe.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z_TheGgFWI

WHEAT, PEAS, AND BEANS ARE A BIG PART OF THE MAIN DIET OF THE IRISH. THE IRISH ALSO REALLY VALUE THEIR BEER SO MOST OF THEM ARE OVERWEIGHT AND UNHEALTHY.

ATTITUDES/BELIEFS

• While Irish fairy figures such as the Leprechaun and the Banshee are well-known around the world, some of the more everyday traditions of Irish folklore are in danger of being forgotten - from belief in magical cures and holy wells to superstitions about unlucky omens and fairy trees.

IRISH FAIRY FIGURES

• Leprechaun- a type of fairy in Irish folklore. It is usually depicted as a little bearded man, wearing a coat and hat, who partakes in mischief. They are solitary creatures who spend their time making and mending shoes and have a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If captured by a human, the leprechaun has the magical power to grant three wishes in exchange for their freedom.

ATTITUDES/BELIEFS

• Average family has 1.38 children and that number is slowly decreasing
• Christianity is the most popular religion among the Irish 84.2% of their population are christians

THE IRISH HAVE 3 DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATION

PRIMARY
Children do not have to attend school until the age of six but it is usual for children to begin school the September following their fourth birthday. Four-year-olds and five-year-olds are enrolled in the junior or senior infant classes.
The curriculum for primary education covers the following key areas:
Language, mathematics, social, environment and scientific education, arts education including visual arts music and drama, physical integration, social personal and health education.

Secondary
Second-level education consists of a three-year junior cycle followed by a two-year or three-year senior cycle depending on whether an optional Transition Year is taken following the Junior Certificate examination.

Students generally commence the junior cycle at the age of 12. The Junior Certificate is taken after three years.

THIRD-LEVEL EDUCATION IS MADE UP OF A NUMBER OF SECTORS. THE UNIVERSITY SECTOR, THE TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR AND THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ARE SUBSTANTIALLY FUNDED BY THE STATE. IN ADDITION THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT PRIVATE COLLEGES.

Most of the Irish population is Christian and they believe in God and Jesus as their savior.

CITATIONS

• http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/the_irish_education_system/o...
• http://www.thejournal.ie/census-shows-family-size-still-declining-but-at-a-...

CITATIONS

• Google.com
• Haiku image search
• Wikipedia
• http://www.yourirish.com/traditions/christmas-day-swim