Old Christmas ways

A habit was usual in former times to add a gift of poultry when renting a house in Dublin, and this gift was presented at Christmas…

A habit was usual in former times to add a gift of poultry when renting a house in Dublin, and this gift was presented at Christmas. Thus we learn that two fat pullets were to be sent with the rent of a house in Henry street in 1716, and if these birds were not available then the sum of five shillings was expected instead. "Capon money" (also valued at five shillings) was quite usually to be found mentioned in old leases and persisted to recent time. It is curious to notice that in the case of the purchaser of the Mansion House from Mr. Dawson six pounds weight of refined sugar was the "duty" imposed on the Corporation in addition to what was paid for the house. It is stated, however, that it need only be paid "if demanded"; so, perhaps, sometimes the City Fathers were let off. All their supplementary imposts were payable at Christmas.

The Irish Times,

December 18th, 1928.