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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — It was quiet everywhere on Christmas Eve except Dublin Airport, where people were preparing for their annual Christmas ceremony, the “Blessing of the Planes.”
Ireland’s busiest airport closes on December 25, the only day of the year when no planes take off or land.
But instead of using this day as a holiday, the airport authorities used this break to carry out an important task: to give the aircraft a solemn blessing from God.
Graeme McQueen, director of media relations at DAA Group, which operates Dublin Airport, told CNN that the annual blessing ceremony dates back to 1947.
“Originally the blessing was for Aer Lingus aircraft, all of which are named after saints,” McQueen said.
He also added: “At that time (in 1947) the blessing took place every summer, but from 1967, as the airport became more and more crowded, the blessing began on Christmas Day, the only day of the year when Dublin Airport closed is.” .
These days, not only Aer Lingus, but also Ryanair’s low-cost airlines receive holy attention.
“The annual blessing today is ecumenical in nature and applies to the public fleet,” McQueen said.
Ireland is a predominantly Catholic country and around 69% of the population reported belonging to the Catholic community in the 2022 census.
Father Desmond Doyle, resident priest at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Airport Chapel, has given blessings in recent years.
The church is located between the two gates and the airport also has a multi-religious prayer room in Terminal 2.
In photos posted on social media, Doyle was seen carrying a cup of holy water to the airport accompanied by another priest and airport police.
Planes used to be flagged off one at a time, but the airport is so crowded these days that this is not possible.
In 2022, the airport welcomed 30.2 million passengers, an increase of 250% compared to the previous year.
Instead, the priest usually delivers the blessing from the runway, the spokesman explained.
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