Sir, – Thank you to Alison Healy for her illuminating column on old Christmas customs (An Irishwoman’s Diary, December 19th).
My favourite tradition, inherited from my parents, is leaving a lighted candle in the window on Christmas Eve as a prayer for overseas family and friends.
I noted her mention of eating 12 mince pies in different houses and wonder if the 12 pubs of Christmas is a modern extrapolation of that. – Yours, etc.
ENDA CULLEN,
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Armagh.