Christmas traditions in Ireland include attending Midnight or morning mass on Christmas Eve even for non-religious families. Exchanging gifts with friends and family is also common, with gifts wrapped and kept under the tree until December 25th. Christmas dinner typically features turkey, potatoes, ham and vegetables, followed by desserts like mince pies or pudding. Other traditions are carol singing for money, wearing paper crowns from Christmas crackers during dinner, and visiting Santa's grotto to tell him gift wishes.

1. Christmas in
Ireland

2. Religious Traditions
• Most families go to mass,
even if they are not usually
religious
• They go to “Midnight mass”
(misa de gallo) on Christmas
Eve, or they go on
Christmas morning
• Many houses will have a
crib with the nativity scene.

3. Presents
• Neighbours, friends and
families exchange
presents
• They are wrapped up
and kept under the tree
until the 25th of
December.
• Children often receive
selection boxes, a small
box with 4 or 5 bars of
chocolate

4. Christmas Dinner
• We eat turkey with mashed
potatoes, roast potatoes, ham,
stuffing and vegetables such
as carrots, cabbage and
brussel sprouts.
• For dessert many people eat
mince pies or Christmas
pudding.
• Mulled wine is the typical
drink.

5. Traditions
Carol-singing
• Some weeks before Christmas children may go to
peoples’ doors and sing Christmas songs, hoping to get
money.
Christmas crackers
• They usually contain 2 paper crowns, a joke and a small
toy for the person who wins the bigger side.
• Everyone will wear the crown during dinner
Santa’s grotto
• Children visit Santa’s grotto and tell him what they
would like for Christmas

6. Santa Claus
• Children write their letters to
Santa Claus at the beginning
of December, with the hope of
getting some new toys
• If the children have behaved
well all year- Santa may bring
them some things from their
letters
• But, if the children haven´t
behaved well, according to
tradition they typically get a
piece of coal and no toys

7. My typical Christmas
• In my family, our Christmas celebrations begin on
Christmas Eve, 24th December.
• We go to my grandparents’ village and go to mass.
My granda and aunties sing in the choir.
• Before we go to bed, we prepare a snack for Santa
Claus and his reindeer- some biscuits, milk and
carrots!
• On Christmas Day we get up early to open presents
visit and then my aunties, uncles and cousins come
to my house for dinner.

9. Boxing Day
• The next day, 26th December,
is St. Stephen´s Day or
Boxing Day
• On this day we usually relax
and visit other family
members. We all go to my
granparents’ house again and
eat soup and food left over
from the Christmas dinner.
• Many shops will start their
sales on this day, so some
people go shopping to find
some cheap deals.

10. New Year´s Eve
• New Year´s Eve is on the 31st
December.
• Families come together and
have a party.
• They watch the Countdown
on T.V. or go to see a
firework display.

11. New Year´s Day
• 1st January or New
Year´s Day marks the
end of Christmas
celebrations for many
people in my country.
• Many people go back to
work on the 2nd or 3rd
of January and schools
usually start back on the
4th of January.

12. Merry
Christmas and a
Happy New
Year!