From spiced beef in Cork to Wren Day parades in Kerry, Irish Christmas traditions vary hugely. December 24th brings packed midnight masses across the country, while Christmas Day tables groan under turkey, ham, and three different kinds of potatoes.
And that’s just the start of it! Ireland’s Christmas traditions tend to fall into two categories:
- The ones that most people follow: E.g. Santa and putting up a Christmas trees
- Old traditions that are often county specific: E.g. the Wren Boys
New and old Irish Christmas traditions
I’ve now spent 35 Christmases in Ireland and, while many things have changed, my Irish Christmas traditions have not.
The image above will give you a good sense of what to expect from the guide below. Cheers!
1. December 8th marks the start of Christmas in Ireland
Photo courtesy Tipperary Tourism via Ireland’s Content Pool
Ah, good aul December 8th. There are two Irish Christmas traditions associated with this day that are still alive and well in Ireland.
The first is the putting up of the Christmas tree; we were always told as kids that December 8th was the day when you were officially ‘allowed’ to start decorating your house.
Now, of course some people put their tree up waaay earlier, but it’s from December 8th that you really notice trees shining bright out of the windows of homes across Ireland.
The second tradition associated with December 8th revolves around shopping. On this day, many people living outside of Dublin travel to the capital to do their Christmas shopping.
2. Putting up Christmas decorations at home
My home at Christmas
This leads me onto tradition two – decking the halls with Christmas decorations. For some households, it’s as simple as a tree in the corner of the living room.
Others add tinsel, Santas, and lights across every available surface on the ground floor. And then there are the households that take it a step further, stringing lights across roofs, gardens, and fences until the whole place glows.
From a single tree to a full-on light show, putting up decorations is one of the Irish Christmas traditions that varies wildly from home to home.
3. Decorating town centres and public places
Photo courtesy Tipperary Tourism via Ireland’s Content Pool
During Christmas in Ireland, many towns and villages are decorated in some way in the weeks and, in some places, months before Christmas arrives.
In Dublin, decorations start to go up at the beginning of November, with decorations getting more and more lavish in the weeks before December.
Related read: See our guide to the best Irish Christmas songs
4. Going to pantos, shows and Christmas carols
Photo left: Shutterstock
For many families in Ireland, Christmas isn’t complete without a festive outing to a panto or carol service.
Pantos – lively, joke-filled musical comedies – have been a festive staple in Dublin for generations. I used to go every year with my Nan, and the tradition is still going strong.
The Gaiety Theatre hosts one of the country’s best-known pantos, but you’ll also find productions across Dublin and beyond.
Alongside the pantos, seasonal concerts like the RTÉ Concert Orchestra’s “Love Actually Live” or carol services in places such as St Patrick’s Cathedral bring a magical soundtrack to the season.
5. Visiting Christmas Markets across the country
One of the newer Christmas traditions in Ireland revolves around lively festive markets.
Christmas markets in Ireland are a relatively new arrival. Many towns and cities across Ireland now boast their very own Yuletide Market.
The most notable are the Galway Christmas market, the Dublin Castle Christmas market, the Belfast Christmas market, Waterford Winterval and Glow Cork.
Although each market tend to vary in size, they all tend to offer the same thing. Those that visit can expect stalls laden with festive food and drink, crafts and local produce.
Related festive read: Check out our guide to 13 facts about Christmas in Ireland
6. Work Christmas parties and catching up with friends over festive Pints
Photos via The Hole in The Wall on FB
From the office party to the long-awaited catch-up in your local, Christmas in Ireland is as much about the social side as the seasonal one.
Work nights out fill pubs and restaurants across the country, often marking the only time of year when entire teams celebrate together.
Then there are the festive pints – a tradition rooted in hometown reunions. Old friends, many of whom have moved away, return for Christmas and gather in familiar pubs to swap stories and relive old times.
Some younger folk take part in what’s known as the ’12 pubs of Christmas’ where the aim is to map out a route and down a drink in each!
7. Joining the crowds at the famous Christmas Eve busk in Dublin
One of the most popular things to do at Christmas in Dublin is to head in for the busking on Grafton Street.
It takes place every Christmas Eve and it was started by Irish musician Glen Handsard.
In years past, everyone from U2 and Dermott Kennedy to Hozier and the Coronas have taken to the stage.
Now, a word of warning – this is a free performance and the result is that the area can get fairly packed, so keep that in mind.
8. Attending a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
Courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve (December 24th) is another of the old Irish Christmas traditions practised by many. Now, although Midnight Mass was traditionally held at Midnight, it’s now, in many places, held at 10:00.
I’ve heard many different stories over the years about why this was moved back to 10… if you rack your brain for a minute, I’m sure you can probably guess why.
Apparently, some people would head off for a few drinks and arrive at Midnight Mass worse for wear… translation: they arrived at Mass pi**ed, and you can’t be having that.
It’ll be at mass, or also in the home, that many Irish Christmas blessings are passed on.
9. Lighting a candle in the window on Christmas Eve
Photo left: Igor11105 top right: JayDeeSweden. Bottom right: helovi (Canva)
Next up is one of the more common Christmas traditions in Ireland – the placing of a candle in the window on the home on Christmas Eve.
This tradition that has spread right the way around the globe thanks to the many Irish immigrants that have set up shop far and wide.
This tradition dates back hundreds of years and takes place on Christmas Eve after the darkness of the evening sets in.
Before settling in for the evening, many homes will light a solitary candle and place it in their window.
I always remember as a kid ringing my Nan and Grandad for a chat on Christmas Eve and they’d ask if we had our candle in the window yet.
10. Braving a Christmas morning swim (and/or a full Irish breakfast)
Photo courtesy of Professor Chaosheng Zhang
One of my favourite Christmas traditions in Ireland that I absolutely do not take part in is the Christmas morning swim.
Many friends and families in Ireland have a tradition of meeting on their local beach on Christmas morning for a paddle.
As you can imagine, the weather in Ireland is pretty chilly at this time of year and the water is icy cold!
These days, many people take part in the Christmas morning swim as part of a charity fundraiser.
11. Sitting down to a traditional Irish Christmas Dinner
This is one of many Christmas traditions in Ireland that isn’t just exclusive to our little island.
If you read our Irish Christmas foods guide, you’ll know that Christmas dinner plays a key part on the big day.
On Christmas day, dinner tends to be a big event in many homes in Ireland. The time that it’s eaten at and the food that’s served will vary depending on county and family.
In my home, in Dublin, myself, my Dad and my mad little dog Toby sit down to a Christmas dinner that’s made up of vegetable soup to start, turkey, ham, stuffing, veg and every kind of potato that you can imagine for main and then something sweet for dessert.
At some tables, particularly for families with strong Irish roots, you’ll hear Irish toasts made.
12. Indulging in Christmas cakes, crackers, coffees and drinks
Photo via Shutterstock
Another of the many Christmas traditions in Ireland that I have fond memories of is the making of the Christmas cake.
I always remember my Nan, in the week or so after Halloween, starting to make her Christmas cake.
This was one of those events that always signalled that Christmas was en route.
An Irish Christmas cake is a rich cake that contain anything from fruit and nuts to mixed spices and more.
They also contain a good slug of Irish whiskey and are topped off with a thick head of marzipan icing.
13. Taking part in the Wren Boys tradition
If you’re looking for weird yet wonderful Irish Christmas traditions, look no further than the Wren Boys tradition, which some say is tied to Irish mythology.
The tradition of the Wren Boys takes place on December 26th, otherwise known as ‘St. Stephen’s Day’ (Boxing Day in the UK), and involves the capture of a fake wren and popping it on top of a pole.
The ‘Wren Boys’, dressed in straw suits and wearing masks then walk through the local town or village playing music.
Two of the more notable Wren Day celebrations take place in Miltown in Clare and in Dingle in Kerry.
This is one of the old Irish Christmas traditions that many tend to have never stumbled upon.
14. Marking Nollaig na mBan/Little Christmas on January 6th
January 6th is traditionally when Christmas in Ireland comes to a close – the tree comes down and all of the festive gear goes back up into the attic.
However, on this day, one of several old Irish Christmas traditions takes place – Nollaig na mBan (AKA ‘Little Christmas’ or ‘Women’s Christmas’).
This custom was born during a time when the running of a home was left to the women of the house. Over the Christmas period, a lot of work would go into cooking, decorating and keeping the house ticking over.
January 6th was, and still is in some parts of Ireland, a day when all of the work that was done over the festive period was/is celebrated.
The chores would pass to the men of the house and the women would meet up with friends.
Can’t spend Christmas in Ireland?
Photos via O’Connell’s on FB
Now that you have a good sense of the different Christmas traditions in Ireland, it’s time for some entertainment for the big day.
Here are some ways of adding a dash of ‘Irishness’ to the big day:
- Films and shows: The best Irish movies and the best Irish TV shows
- Words and wisdom: Irish toasts, Irish phrases, Irish slang, Irish jokes and Irish blessings
- Drinks: Irish beers, Irish whiskey brands, Irish cocktails and Irish drinks
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.