Midnight
In the meantime the night had advanced ; the hour might be about half-past ten o'clock ; all were in the zenith of enjoyment , when old Frank M'Kenna addressed them as follows : -- `` Neighbors , the dickens o ' one o ' me would like to break up the sport -- an ' , in throth , harmless and dacent sport it is ; but you all know that this is Christmas night , and that it 's our duty to attind the Midnight Mass. . Anybody that likes to hear it may go , for it 's near time to be home and prepare for it ; but the sorra one o ' me wants to take any of yez from your sport , if you prefer it ; all I say is , that I must lave yez ; so God be wid yez till we meet agin ! '' This short speech produced a general bustle in the barn ; many of the elderly neighbors left it , and several of the young persons also . It was Christmas Eve , and the Midnight Mass had from time immemorial so strong a hold upon their prejudices and affections , that the temptation must indeed have been great which would have prevented them from attending it . When old Frank went out , about one-third of those who were present left the dance along with them ; and as the hour for mass was approaching , they lost no time in preparing for it . The Midnight Mass is , no doubt , a phrase familiar to our Irish readers ; but we doubt whether those in the sister kingdoms , who may honor our book with a perusal , would , without a more particular description , clearly understand it . This ceremony-was performed as a commemoration not only of the night , but of the hour in which Christ was born .