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Christmas in Ireland: Traditions, Celebrations + Facts

Christmas in Ireland: Traditions, Celebrations + Facts

Christmas in Ireland is a cherished time for both young and old, and the festive period is filled with traditions and customs.

While Christmas dinners, cosy pubs and Nollaig na mBan all play their part in the festivities, there is no one version of an Irish Christmas.

Each family, and sometimes county, have their own customs that are practiced in Ireland during Christmas.

There are many Irish Christmas traditions

Ireland Christmas traditions

 

There are countless Christmas traditions in Ireland, and they range from weird to wonderful.

Some, like Wren Day, are ancient Christmas customs while others, like the watching of the Toy Show, are more recent additions.

The Late Late Toy Show

For many, the start of Christmas in Ireland is with a TV programme on RTE One – ‘The Late Late Toy Show’!

This show started in 1975 and they pull out all the stops for the Christmas edition, highlighting  some of the best-selling and most popular toys in the lead-up to Christmas.

Midnight mass

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (December 24th) is another of the old Irish Christmas traditions. Back in the day, it was held, as the name suggests, at midnight.

However, it’s now typically held at 10:00 p.m. in most places, partly to avoid people arriving straight from the pub after a few hours of festive cheer.

The Christmas morning swim

Many people take to the sea in Ireland during Christmas, with huge crowds attending swims for both leisure and charity.

Although there are Christmas swims all over Ireland, it has been happening at Forty Foot in Dublin for over 250 years.

 

A candle in the window

Candles are part of every traditional Christmas, as they’re a sign of welcome and a symbol of warm hospitality.

Window candles are symbolic in Ireland as they show that the family would welcome the Holy Family, unlike the innkeeper in Bethlehem who turned them away from his inn.

Wren Day

On St Stephen’s Day, it’s traditional in Ireland, particularly in Dingle, for “Wren Boys” to parade around the streets.

They wear straw suits and make their way through the town dancing, singing and making merry to raise funds for charity.

The big day is on the 25th, but the 8th and the 26th are important, too

Christmas in galway

Photos with thanks to Chaosheng Zhang

There are 3 days to take note of if you’re visiting Ireland at Christmas – the 8th, the 25th and the 26th.

December 8th

The unofficial beginning of the festivities takes place on the 8th, which is traditionally when Christmas in Ireland kick-starts.

It is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a day when practising Catholics attend mass.

The religious holiday became a big pre-Christmas shopping day with many people from smaller towns and villages in Ireland travelling to the various cities in Ireland to pick up gifts.

 

December 25th

Christmas Day in Ireland is celebrated on December 25th and it is the highlight of the Christian calendar.

While Christmas is a national holiday in Ireland and most businesses close, some, like petrol stations, remain open for the first half of the day.

December 26th

December 26th is known as St Stephen’s Day in Ireland, although over the border in Northern Ireland, it’s known as Boxing Day (see my guide to the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland).

It’s also referred to as the “Feast of St Stephen” as in the carol “Good King Wenceslas”. St Stephens’ Day celebrates the life of Saint Stephen, an early Christian martyr who was stoned to death in AD36.

Christmas markets in Ireland are a-plenty

Christmas markets Ireland 2024

Christmas markets are becoming an ever bigger part of Ireland’s festive season.

Christmas markets used to be the reserve of Germany and Italy, but they are now several Christmas markets in Ireland.

Some of the main ones are:

 

The weather during Christmas in Ireland varies wildly

ireland in December

While some countries experience consistent weather during the winter months, December in Ireland can be a mixed bag weather wise.

There are average highs of 10°C/50°F and average lows of 3°C/37°F. Although we haven’t had snow in Ireland for Christmas in several years, it’s common on higher grounds.

Rainfall is frequent and the days are short, with the sun rising at 08:22 and setting at 16:19 at the beginning of the month.

 

Many pubs go all out with Christmas decorations

Christmas pubs Dublin

Photos via The Hole in The Wall on FB

Decorations at home, in public places, and in offices, shops, and yes, pubs, vary in intensity.

Some pubs in Ireland make do with a simple Christmas tree, while others go all out.

Arguably the most impressive pub in Ireland at Christmas time is the Hole in the Wall pub in Dublin.

This is Europe’s longest pub and it reigns supreme as the most Christmassy pub in Ireland!

 

Christmas dinner in Ireland is a big deal

Irish Christmas foods

If you read my Irish Christmas foods guide, you’ll know that the traditional Christmas dinner is a key part of Christmas in Ireland.

Christmas Day, December 25th, is when extended families sit down together. The table is laid with crackers at each place setting and once pulled, paper crowns are worn and jokes are shared.

Diners tuck into a tasty cooked meal usually of turkey, roast potatoes, vegetables and all the trimmings.

After a brief respite, the Christmas Pudding is then served with custard, brandy butter or white sauce.

Hot Irish coffee and mince pies may follow and the Christmas cake will be cut – if anyone has any room left for more!

Related read: See my guides to the most popular Irish Christmas blessings and Irish Christmas songs

 

‘Little Christmas’ takes place on January 6th

nollaig na mban 2024

One of the more unique fun facts about Christmas in Ireland is Nollaig na mBan. Following the main event, Ireland has a traditional “Little Women’s Christmas”.

It takes place on January 6th, the Twelfth Night or Epiphany. 

Back in the day, housework in many homes in Ireland would have been exclusively done by the women of the household.

Women’s Little Christmas was traditionally a day when the men were tasked with all of the chores and the women got together and enjoyed a well earned day out.

 

Although it’s the off-season, there’s plenty to do in Ireland during Christmas

ireland itinerary 7 days

While Christmas isn’t the best time of year to visit Ireland, there’s still plenty to like about it.

Yes, some of the tourist attractions will close during the off season, but many remain open.

If you need a road trip route to follow, visit my Ireland Itinerary Library – it has the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip guides.

 

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