How to have a very Irish Christmas, according to Irish people

The variety of Irish Christmas habits 

The Irish have a very unique way of celebrating the festive season. These chaotic Christmas traditions are often a merging of both the old and the new.

You can expect to see timeless traditions such as December the 8th being the unofficial start of Christmas in Ireland. It's the day when you were finally allowed to start untangling the fairy lights. Traditionally it was also the day when those living outside Dublin came up to the Big Smoke to do their Christmas shopping. 

While today, people start putting up their tree the minute Halloween is over, and there's not a set day for culchies to descend on Dublin, this is just one Christmas custom that rang through for generations across the nation. 

The list of these rituals that capture the heart of the Irish festive season is almost as long as Santa’s list. 

Take for example, the 61% of Irish people who say the controversial Brussel sprout is a must-have at Christmas dinner. While everyone might not enjoy them, there's no denying that Christmas wouldn't be the same without them. 

There's also the age-old tradition of Midnight Mass, which is both a religious and cultural cornerstone of Irish Christmas traditions. 

Let's not forget our love for Christmas FM. Since its inception in 2008 Christmas FM has been a staple in the daily festivities of those across the country, playing festive tunes 24 hours of the day. For many, a trip in the car to see relatives wouldn't be the same without the familiar hum of this station. 

A favourite festive custom of many is  Nollaig na mBan (Women’s Christmas) or Little Christmas. This is the official ending of Christmas in Irish eyes. It is also understood to be a day to celebrate women. Historically, it was recognised that putting together a magical Christmas often fell upon the women of the family.

Men were traditionally meant to do the heavy lifting when it came to cooking, cleaning and housework on this day, while women are expected to pop to the local pub and enjoy themselves following all the festive preparations they organised. 

While we would hope in 21st-century Ireland that the workload is a bit more spread,  the day continues to be celebrated by Irish people who use it to both celebrate the women in their lives and wrap up the festivities.

One of the longest prevailing festive rituals in Ireland is the simple act of posting a Christmas card. 

Despite all the modern technology at hand these days, the Irish also still hold a strong affinity for both sending and receiving Christmas cards. You can expect people across the nation to still be sending cards to people they will not see in person, be they at home or abroad. 

It's not just sending them either; we also love getting them! 54% of Irish adults display Christmas cards on the fireplace. I mean, who can blame them? They are incredibly chic as home decor! They also hold a significant sentimental value and are something you can keep in the memory box for years to come. 

So why not hop on board the trend and send a Christmas card to a loved one this festive season? It's one of the simplest ways to spread joy. So what are you waiting for? Pop down to your local An Post and post that card before it's too late.

There are many ways to celebrate Christmas the Irish way. These are just some of the Christmas customs that continue to capture the heart of the nation year after year.

Let us know some of your favourite festive traditions!