The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year and heralds the lengthening of the days. Many of the world’s faiths observe major feasts and festivals around the same time. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, Yalda, Dongzhi, or prefer to sit in quiet reflection on the returning of the light, Katie Marie and Joe celebrate with a set of music for the season.
This week’s artists: Planxty; Jon Antonsson; Steph Geremia; Lisa Ekstrom & Martin Simpson; Dréos; Parti Fronheulog; Mick Moloney & Athena Tergis; Parti Gad; Julie Murphy, Emma Christian, et al; The Bethlehem Village Band; John Carlos; Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh; Cormac Breatnach And Martin Dunlea; and The Fire.
Our FairPlé score this week: 40
Playlist:
| # | Track | Artist | Release |
| 1 | Glen Where The Deer Is-The Ivy Leaf-The Dublin Lasses | Nuala Kennedy | Behave the Bravest |
| 2 | Arthur McBride | Planxty | Live 2004 |
| 3 | Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul | Jon Antonsson | (single) |
| 4 | Christmas In Spiddal-Donegal Mazurka (Mazurkas) | Steph Geremia | Up She Flew |
| 5 | The Holly Bears the Crown | Jessica Radcliffe, Lisa Ekström & Martin Simpson | Beautiful Darkness, Celebrating the Winter Solstice |
| 6 | A Mhisg A Chuir An Nollaig Oirnn-Calum Crùbach-Muileann Dùbh-Jock Broon’s 70th | Dréos | Cascade Mountain Aire |
| 7 | Ar Dymor Gaeaf Dyma’N Gwyl | Parti Fronheulog | Caneuon Plygain & Llofft Stabal / Close Harmony Traditional Carol Singing |
| 8 | Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake (Live) | Mick Moloney & Athena Tergis | An Irish Christmas (Live from Irish Arts Center) |
| 9 | Deffrown Deffrown | Parti Gad | Caneuon Plygain & Llofft Stabal / Close Harmony Traditional Carol Singing |
| 10 | Glen Where The Deer Is-The Ivy Leaf-The Dublin Lasses | Nuala Kennedy | Behave the Bravest |
| 11 | Mari Lwyd-Can Y Fari Lwyd, Cariad Cywir (Processional Tune) | Julie Murphy, Emma Christian, et al | A Celtic Christmas [Saydisc] |
| 12 | Y Fari Lwyd | The Bethlehem Village Band | Bethlehem Christmas |
| 13 | TourneTourne | Jessica Radcliffe, Lisa Ekström & Martin Simpson | Beautiful Darkness, Celebrating the Winter Solstice |
| 14 | The Hare’s Paw-Christmas Eve | John Carlos | Irish Traditional Music on Flute |
| 15 | Ar Phósaís Fós?, The Surround, We’ll Hunt the Wren, The New Way to Miltown | Mick O’Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh | Deadly Buzz | Aoibhinn Crónán |
| 16 | Christmastime In Ashland | Cormac Breatnach And Martin Dunlea | Music for Whistle and Guitar |
| 17 | The Jingle Bells Suite | The Fire | The Fire’s Very Scottish Christmas |