A Typical Irish Christmas

Family, traditions and the Myth of the 12 pubs of Christmas. An Irish Christmas all in one.

Photo by Nicholas Murawski on Unsplash

Christmas is a magical time of the year and it is my personally my favourite season of the year because I always felt that something deep in me around December. As the year comes to a close, Christmas is a time of reflection of the crazy, mad and hectic year that just happened. In a blink of an eye, the year is gone and now your in the attic taken down the Christmas decorations again. Unwrapping lights like it’s a mission and looking for batteries like a hound seeking blood. Regardless of the stress, the build up to Christmas, which now starts in October (WTF? like, come on!) there is nothing like it. From Christmas markets’s, traditional songs, religious experience’s and the gathering of family and friends for afar to get together, just to say : “Merry Christmas” and proceed to having a good old catch up.

So, in this article, I will dive into a few things that happens around Ireland during the Christmas period and let you in on a few Irish traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and some that are only new but have been gaining popularity in the last few years.

Lets get into it. Here are just a few Irish tradition’s that happen only at this beautiful time of year called Christmas.

December 8th

This is an important day in Ireland for two reasons. I’ll give you the main reason first: The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception. The holy day where we celebrate and honour the Virgin Mary and her sinless life making her the the perfect vessel for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Masses are held all around the country. The 8th of December was also a tradition where People from outside of Dublin would come up to do their shopping for the Christmas. This tradition was big in my gran-parents day and also my Ma and Da’s day, but with retails shops and bigger brands now having locations outside of Dublin. The tradition is more of a novelty now that some still do. People still make the trip, but it is more to see friends and enjoy the atmosphere in the city. The 8th of December is seen as the official start of Christmas in Ireland.

Pantos and Christmas shows

Pantos or Pantomimes are a stable in the Irish calendar and are a go to for family, friends and communities. Pantos have been apart of Irish Christmas’s since I can remember and each year they just get bigger and bigger. They tend to focus on classic tales like: Cinderella, Jack and The Bean Stalk, Red Riding Hood and more. However, it isn’t a typical play, as it is tradition in the pantos to have a famous actors and/or celebs appear in it. With great fun for all the family, fantastic actors and actresses and some craic-ing Irish humour. The panto is the place to be for some good laughs and howling performances. The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin is the venue were the annual panto takes place every year. It is sold out most nights. A tradition that keeps on rocking every year that is rolls around.

The Late Late Toy Show

The Late late show is a weekly talk show that is broadcast in Ireland. It is like every late night talk show, it brings on guests they get interviewed and It it watched by alot of people. However, there is one night of the year that the Late Late Show switches from being a serious talk show to an Toy show extravaganza. The Late Late Toy Show is probably the go to show that is watched by nearly every household in Ireland. Gone are the politic talks, in a the reviews of this years toys, gadgets, baby dolls and tech all aimed for kids for the big day. Patrick Kielty, the host of the Late Late will swap his suit for a bad Christmas jumper and he interviews some kids about what are the big wants for Christmas and of course, the kids break the nation hearts every year with their cuteness. The show has become so popular, that people now put up their Christmas tree’s the week of the Late Late Toy Show and have it all done so they can enjoy the show the night it airs. Celebs are known to make special appearances from time to time, Ed Sheeran being one, surprising a young fan one year and making a viral moment. It is just a good feel, warm and happy night that everyone enjoys. Long may it last.

12 Pubs of Christmas

Oh this is the big one! The créme da la créme of the Christmas season. The legend that is the 12 pubs of Christmas. What is it and has anyone every actually done it? Legend has it: no one has. This bar crawl with a bad Christmas jumper, Santa hats and a gang of friends emerged in the last few years and I think it it more of a urban tale then actually anyone completing it. I never had, even back in the day when I was out socialising and drinking. It is an impossible task. I don’t think most people even get pass three maybe five pubs in the night, I’m being generous now. Whatever you heard about “rules” isn’t really a thing when it comes to the night in action. The 12 pubs of Christmas is just a novelty that comes with the season. Yes, there are parties and work dues that do attempt the great feat but it is only really done in area’s with large number of pubs like Dublin, Galway and Cork. Trying doing 12 pubs in a suburb outside the city, you’ll be only make it to the second one and give up. I applaud anyone who dare’s to take on this challenge, Godspeed.

Christmas Eve Drinks

This one is more special than the 12 pubs, or your Christmas night out. Christmas Eve drinks is a special time where everything is now done. Shopping is done, the presents are bought and wrapped and Santa is on his way to visit all the good girls and boys. So while that is happening, you head down to your local on Christmas Eve night to have a few drinks, catch up with mates and to finally look forward to Christmas day. This is more of a catch up rather then a night out ( depending on how it goes) Most pubs are packed by 4pm in the day and finish early around midnight. Because no one wants to venture far, the local is the place to be and sometimes there’s no better place then with your friends on a lovely Christmas Eve, wearing a bad jumper and counting down the minutes until the big day.

Busking on Grafton Street

This started many years ago by one of Ireland’s most famous musicians: Glen Hansard. The Oscar award winning musician just decided one night to go into Grafton Street, Dublin city, take only his guitar and play to all the late night shoppers that were getting last minute bits and bobs for the holiday. Glen sang some classic Christmas songs, Irish ballads and covers of other songs. He did it out of the kindness of his heart, but he didn’t expect it to become what it later would that cold December when he first busked that night in Dublin. Each year since Glen returned to Grafton Street for his Christmas Eve busk, but it caught on very quickly and within a few years, it became one of the go to events in Dublin for Christmas. Thousands would show up, the street would close down as Glen along with now A-list celebs like Bono from U2, Imelda May, Hozier and Dermot Kennedy would accompany Glen on the street of the capital to sing to the crowd gathering. What one man started on night many years ago out of the goodness of his heart, is now something to behold when you are in Dublin for Christmas.

Midnight Mass

Christmas Eve every year all around the country, churches will hold a special midnight mass to honour the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Churches would have hundreds of people lining up in it, singing carols, receiving The Eucharist and praying and hearing of the greatest story ever told. It is a important event in Ireland as communities get together to celebrate Jesus’s birth, talk with family and friends and also pray to those who we have lost along the way. It is a time of joy, reflection and to feel a deepness within yourself. Sometimes it is hard to forget the real reason why he celebrate Christmas and the true meaning behind it. Even if you don’t go to mass, it is a good time to remember why the holiday exists in the first place. It is the birth of Jesus Christ, Our King of Kings, The Greatest Man to ever live.

Christmas Day Swim

I have never done this myself because I live on the opposite side of the city when this this tradition takes places. Every year as far as I can remember, on Christmas day out in Forty Foot in Sandycove, Dublin, a group of people gather on the pier and take a dip into the cold Atlantic sea. It has always been a tradition but over the years it grew into something big and now groups organise the swims in order to raise money for charities. You can jump in and out or actual have a certain distance you want to swim, all is welcome as money is raised for a good cause’s. Nothing is more refreshing then jumping into the cold sea after a night of drinking to prepare yourself for a lovely home cooked Christmas dinner later that day. Maybe I try it one day? Time will tell.

January 6th- Little Christmas

And finally, January 6th is a special day in the Irish calendar. We call this Little Christmas and it as a small history to it. Along time ago back in the day( i mean back now) when it was tradition for the husband’s to take up the cleaning, cooking and preparing of the food for the day. The day was seen as a day for the husband’s to give back to the household and let the wive’s rest for the day. Obviously times have changed and that is not the case anymore, but Little Christmas is still celebrated but it is more about having a good dinner together and beating the first few days of the January blues. It is also a known that you should never take down your Christmas tree before January 6th, unless you want bad luck for the New Year. I don’t know if people actually still believe in that? But I keep to that tradition and keep my tree up until after the 6th. Then it’s clear sailing for a another good year.

And that is just a few examples that I have shown you about what Christmas time in Ireland is like. I hope you liked my list and that you come away knowing a few new things that you didn’t know and maybe one year you might want to come over here and celebrate Christmas in Ireland. Grab yourself a bad Christmas jumper, your wallet for the 12 pubs and your singing voice for the busking. You are more then welcome to come over here and I will leave you with this lovely note:

Nollaig Shona Daoibh ( Merry Christmas to you all,in Irish)

Slán Go Fóill

-Marc Sean

If you liked my article above and want to read more of my thought’s on this topic or just anything in general, please read one of my other articles below and consider subscribing/following for more. Thank you.