An ancestral tradition soon to be called into question? Every year, on Christmas Day, a ritual takes place at Dublin Airport. The day before, the number of flights operated began to drop, so that no more planes were flying by December 25. No airline anymore takes off or lands one of its aircraft. Ryanair and other Irish and British carriers give their employees a full day off. Meanwhile, in the deserted Dublin airport, an old tradition is taking place. A priest brings a chalice to the airfield and blesses the planes.
This Catholic ceremony could soon disappear for security reasons. More precisely, for new protocols imposed by the Irish Aviation Authority, the air regulatory authority in the country. In any case, this is what an airport spokesperson recently interviewed by Euronews said. “
Due to recent changes in security protocols, airside access is now limited to airport operations,”
he said. “
For this reason, non-operational activities can no longer be facilitated airside. We are currently working on a new approach to facilitate the traditional Christmas blessing of planes at Dublin Airport.”
Towards a more inclusive ceremony?
This update comes in the middle of a media storm. Many accuse activist John Hamill, former head of Atheist Ireland, of being behind the change. The latter indeed asks to organize a more inclusive ceremony.
“Dublin Airport is a state body that has spent 75 years using public funds to organize an annual Catholic-only event. I think they should open the event to all faiths and even for those who don't have one, as required by law
,” he responded on X (formerly Twitter).
The religious tradition dates back to the summer of 1947. Originally, it only concerned the planes of the Irish airline Aer Lingus. Over the years, this blessing has extended to all aircraft. But faced with the increase in air traffic, the ceremony was moved to December 25, the only day of the year when Dublin Airport closes its doors. Only a small staff then worked within the airport infrastructure, including the airport chaplain, Father Desmond Doyle.
In the past, planes were blessed individually, but given the explosion in the number of aircraft, grace is now given from the tarmac. “
Nowadays, the annual blessing is ecumenical and covers the entire fleet,”
explained Graeme McQueen, spokesperson for airport manager DAA, to CNN. As reported by Euronews, Dublin Airport is currently studying the possibility of organizing a ceremony in 2024. The latter, if it takes place, should be closely scrutinized.