The Emerald Isle shines with its parties, traditions, and joy—after all, the Irish are famous for being festive. That’s why December in Ireland is packed with celebrations.
If you’re planning to celebrate Christmas in Ireland or keep it on your radar for when you study and work in an Irish city, here’s everything you need to know about the most popular traditions, typical Irish Christmas dishes, how they ring in the New Year, and more.
Keep reading—there’s no time to waste!
Traditional Food
As you might expect, Christmas in Ireland is quite traditional. That’s why a huge roast turkey is a must on the table. Well, to be precise, the Irish actually prefer goose, served with vegetables, roasted apples, or apple compote.
Christmas Traditions and Celebrations in Ireland
The Irish love a good party, and Christmas is no exception—it’s celebrated in full swing.
But that’s not all—Christmas Eve in Ireland goes far beyond the usual. In addition to the typical Christmas celebrations, there are unique festivities such as the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, St. Stephen’s Day, and the party at the Guinness Storehouse.
When it comes to traditions, Christmas in Ireland always comes with a beautiful Christmas tree. Every December 8th, the Irish gather to decorate it with plenty of lights and sparkles. At the very top, they place a striking angel.
Still, Irish traditions have their own special touch. On the front door or in the windows of homes, a large candle is placed. On Christmas Eve, the youngest member of the family lights it to welcome the Holy Family into the home.
In addition, almost every Irish household sets up a nativity scene. Some families put a lot of effort into it, while others simply look for a small manger to place the Baby Jesus. What matters most is celebrating the birth of the Son of God.
Another Christmas tradition in Ireland is the Christmas swim! Every December 25th, in the south of Dublin, hundreds of swimmers gather to take a plunge into the sea! No matter how cold the water is, they believe it fills them with energy and protects them from illness.
Finally, when New Year’s Eve arrives, homes are thoroughly cleaned. For the Irish, this is essential, as it brings good omens and good luck for the year ahead. Pantries are also filled to the brim so that abundance is never lacking.
Sources
- The Pantomime, an Irish Christmas Tradition: https://sites.nd.edu/rbsc/the-pantomime-an-irish-christmas-tradition/ Notre Dame Sites
- Christmas, wine and Covid-19 (study referencing Irish context): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7724439/ pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Holidays In Ireland (blog post by Northeastern University): https://geo.northeastern.edu/blog/holidays-in-ireland/ geo.northeastern.edu
- Ireland — State.gov (listing Irish holidays including Christmas & St Stephen’s Day): https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71386.htm 2009-2017.state.gov
