What do the Irish do on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve, December 24th, is traditionally a day for people to return to their home towns from Dublin or abroad. On the evening of December 24th, families and neighbours get together at home or in local pubs, which normally close early on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas Day is a public holiday in Ireland.

Do Irish celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve?

In Ireland, Christmas lasts from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, which is referred to as “Little Christmas.” “Little Christmas” marks the official end of the Christmas season. Traditionally, the men of the house take over for the day, preparing meals and allowing the women to have a rest.

What are some Irish Christmas traditions?

What do the Irish eat on Christmas Eve?

Roast turkey is the most popular centrepiece of an Irish Christmas dinner. Alternatives to turkey include roast or boiled ham, both traditional and still popular.

Is Christmas Eve a holiday in Ireland?

Christmas Eve , New Year's Eve and Good Friday are not public holidays and workers are not entitled to bank holiday pay for those days. Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day are public holidays in Ireland .

Irish Christmas Traditions

What is Christmas Eve called in Ireland?

Christmas Eve (Oíche Nollag) marks the start of the Christmas and New Year period in the Republic of Ireland. Many people have to work for part of the day. However, they generally make an effort to spend the evening at home with family members and enjoy a simple, informal meal.

What is the day after Christmas called in Irish?

Though Northern Ireland celebrates Boxing Day, the Republic of Ireland to the south celebrates St. Stephen's Day instead. And on December 26, pockets of people across the entire island continue the tradition of Wren Day, or Lá an Dreolín.

What is traditionally done on Christmas Eve?

Most churches offer special programs on Christmas Eve (live performances, caroling, nativity pageants, and more), making it the perfect place to spend the evening. Some even offer late night services, allowing your family to ring in the special day together at the stroke of midnight.

Do Irish eat meat on Christmas Eve?

The traditional Irish Christmas dinner is a full-on family tradition when everyone gathers around the dinner table to feast. Roast turkey is the traditional meat, but many also have boiled ham.

What is traditional Christmas Eve dinner?

One of the more popular Christmas Eve dishes is fish, particularly fish pie. "This is a Catholic tradition related to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Some Catholics still include seven different fishes in the meal – not difficult if you're making a pie," says Brown.

What are 3 traditions in Ireland?

What do the Irish leave out for Santa?

In Ireland, kids leave out mince pies and pints of Guinness for Santa.

What do Irish put on top of Christmas tree?

However, a popular superstition in Ireland is putting up Christmas decorations before December 8th will bring bad luck. Whenever the tree does go up, its usually beautifully decorated, with an angel on top, and presents underneath.

Do Irish say Happy Christmas?

Nollaig shona dhuit!

= Happy Christmas!/Merry Christmas! Be careful. This Irish expression is specifically when you are wishing one person a merry Christmas in Gaelic.

What do Ireland people call Santa?

Santa Claus, Daidí na Nollag (lit. father of Christmas ) in Irish, is known in Ireland and Northern Ireland as Santy or Santa.

How do Irish people say merry Christmas?

Nollaig shona dhuit!

This is the standard Christmas greeting in Irish, pronounced as something like /Null-eg hunna with/. This Irish greeting is used only when wishing one person a merry Christmas in Gaelic. When you're buying Christmas cards in Ireland, you will most likely see “Nollaig Shona” often.

What are you not supposed to eat on Christmas Eve?

The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish (typically fried in oil).

Do the Irish eat pizza?

Pizza fits into the Irish culture. Pizza is also popular because of the use of fresh ingredients. While there are typical distributors of restaurant ingredients, Irish people, and therefore many (but not all) restaurant proprietors, cook with freshly (as in daily) bought ingredients.

Do Catholics eat only fish on Christmas Eve?

The ancient tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic custom of abstinence from meat and dairy products on the eve of certain holidays, including Christmas.

What nationalities open presents on Christmas Eve?

In Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, presents are traditionally exchanged on the evening of 24 December. Children are commonly told that presents were brought either by the Christkind (German for Christ child), or by the Weihnachtsmann.

What do Catholics do on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve/Day

Catholics, as well as some Protestant denominations, celebrate mass at midnight. The ceremony, held in churches throughout the world, celebrates the birth of Christ, widely believed to have occurred at night.

What two food items are traditionally left for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Today in the United States, leaving out a plate of cookies (Oreos and classic chocolate chip are popular choices) and a glass of milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is a well-established tradition among children.

Do the Irish have Christmas trees?

Christmas in Ireland is the largest celebration of the year and lasts from 24 December to 6 January, although 8 December is traditionally viewed as the start of Christmas with many putting up their decorations and Christmas trees, along with doing their Christmas shopping.

What is little Christmas in Irish?

In celebration of the feast of the Epiphany in Ireland, January 6th is marked by Nollaig na mBan or Women's Little Christmas. On this day it is the tradition in Ireland for the women to get together and enjoy their own Christmas, while the men folk stay at home and handle all the chores.

What is an Irish goodnight?

Oíche mhaith. /Ee-ha wah/