Irish Christmas – Bob Bales & Friends Live

When Bob Bales—born in County Mayo in western Ireland—joins forces with Judith Wache (violin and vocals), Michel Crosio (pianist and keyboardist, producer and arranger for Marla Glenn), and Harry Sawatzki (bodhran) for one of these extraordinary and atmospheric winter concerts, it’s IRISH CHRISTMAS!

An evening that brings us the special Christmas traditions of the Emerald Isle through rousing instrumental music, singing, Irish stories, the well-known Irish love of dancing, and a deep Irish zest for life.

It was Bob Bales who, with his music, helped the famous tap dance show *MAGIC OF THE DANCE* achieve worldwide fame.

At IRISH CHRISTMAS, he sings and plays not only the Irish busuki but also the acoustic guitar in the Scottish folk style

Also joining the show is dancer Gyula Glaser, a three-time European Irish Dance Champion and longtime member of Gaelforce Dance.

In 2015, Glaser was a star and solo dancer with *Magic of the Dance*.

Glaser is joined on stage by his equally virtuoso wife, Nicole Ohnesorge, who has been a three-time German champion in Irish dance, a European vice-champion, and a third-place finisher at a world championship.

Armed with such musical and dance talent, the artists in *IRISH CHRISTMAS* transport the audience back to the roots of Celtic Christmas traditions while also offering a glimpse into contemporary Irish Christmas traditions.

With a gentle voice and a heartfelt passion, Bob Bales shares stories from ancient Ireland, describing Christmas in Ireland as a joyful and festive celebration among large gatherings of family and friends, where both doors and hearts are wide open.

There are quite a few unique Christmas customs, such as Christmas swimming in the freezing-cold Irish Sea or the musical masquerade parades of the Wrenboys, dressed in imaginative straw masks and colorful robes.

After delivering the gifts—which aren’t opened until the morning of December 25—the Irish Santa Claus is even allowed to enjoy a Guinness and a mince pie, while the Irish generally swear by their hot Christmas whiskey punch with lemon, cloves, and brown sugar as a winter warmer.

It’s also common to decorate front doors with a holly wreath in the run-up to Christmas.

By the way, in Ireland, people wish each other a Merry Christmas either in Irish as “Nollaig Shona Duit” [pronounced roughly like “Nolligkonnarüt(sch)”] or in English: “Happy Christmas!”