See what an Irish Christmas looks like! What do Guinness Beer and Santa Claus have in common?

Are you wondering what a traditional Christmas looks like in Ireland?

What is your favorite Christmas food and dessert?

And when is it allowed to decorate the Christmas tree?

Are you a fan of unusual Christmas traditions? See what’s happening in Ireland!

Christmas time in Ireland

When can the Christmas tree be “officially” decorated? In Ireland, this date is set for December 8, so it’s a day that all children eagerly await.

The second tradition associated with December 8 revolves around shopping. Today, many people outside of Dublin travel to the capital for Christmas shopping.

The time before Christmas is also connected with decorating houses and entire cities. Christmas lights that can be seen from afar are popular.

Popular Christmas carols are played by loudspeakers, which you can hear even on a walk between the houses.

What is Christmas like in Ireland?

There are many Christians in Ireland, so it will be no surprise that midnight mass on December 24th is popular.

Although Midnight Mass was traditionally held at midnight, it is now held at ten in the evening in many places.

Surprisingly, in addition to the apparent celebrations of Mass, eating, drinking, and exchanging gifts, the Irish celebrate Christmas Day.

From swimming on Christmas Day to fun runs, the Irish love to raise money for charity over Christmas. Stepping into the cold winter air or icy seawater stream is the perfect way to appreciate a cozy fireplace.

And when are Christmas presents brought to Ireland? The unwrapping of Christmas presents falls on the morning of December 25, and, as in neighboring Great Britain, they are carried by Santa Claus.

What does traditional Christmas food look like?

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

Goose or duck was very traditional but less popular nowadays.

Other Christmas foods – such as spiced beef – are unique to specific regions in Ireland. What is seasoned meat?

It’s beef coated in a mixture of pepper, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. The smell of spiced beef cooking is typical of an Irish Christmas.

A typical Christmas dessert, Irish Christmas pudding, traditionally known as “plum pudding,” is a rich, moist fruit cake. The recipe calls for soaking it in brandy, which makes the pudding flammable and is traditionally set on fire when served.

Mulled wine, hot whiskey, Irish coffee, or hot spiced port will warm you up nicely over Christmas.

What is a women’s Christmas?

The Feast of Epiphany, i.e., January 6, was also celebrated in some towns in Ireland as “Nollaig na mBean” or Women’s Christmas.

Women traditionally have the day off, and men do housework and cook! Women gathered in their homes to sew and talk.

Although this tradition is obsolete, some women still like to get together on Sundays closest to Epiphany, drink tea and cakes, chat, and enjoy each other’s company.

Irish Christmas traditions: hunting and alcohol

There is an old tradition that in some Irish houses (though not many now), people put a tall fat candle on the sill of the largest window on Christmas Eve after sunset. The candle burns all night and represents a welcoming light for Mary and Joseph.

If you like special Christmas traditions, you will definitely be interested in the Wren Boys tradition. On the second day of Christmas, or St. Stephen’s Day, which is December 26, people dress up in costumes, straw suits, and masks, then walk through the local town or village, play music, and hunt for a fake wren before impaling it.

There is an old Christmas carol that refers to the 12 days leading up to Christmas Day and the gifts that a couple of lovers would exchange on each of those days.

What better gift to give a loved one than a pint from each of the 12 best pubs in your area? Many Irish people and tourists often take up this tradition, but few follow through!

We’ve all heard of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus to enjoy during his one-night travels around the world, but things are done very differently in Ireland. Santa likes to treat himself to some heartier treats: a pint of Guinness and some traditional sweets, such as mince pies filled with candied fruit and spices.

What to visit during Christmas in Ireland?

One of the most obvious things to do in Ireland in December is to plan a visit to the Christmas markets in Ireland.

These usually start in mid-November and last until the end of December. Christmas markets in Dublin, Galway, or Belfast are popular.

You might be surprised to find stalls, a beautifully decorated tree, and even merry-go-rounds at the Christmas markets!

The average temperature in Ireland during Christmas is a pleasant 10 °C, which for many is ideal weather for hiking!

You can walk through the magical nature and see, for example, the Homeric Cliffs. If you fancy a longer hike, hike in the Morne Mountains.

After a hearty walk, don’t forget to visit one of the many local pubs where you can enjoy the famous Irish beer!

Are you currently in the north of Ireland? If you’re lucky, you might even see the Northern Lights, also visible from Ireland during December.