Apart from Christmas dinner, Carolling (singing hymns or popular festive folk songs), and hanging Holly Wreaths, here are just a few of Irish people’s favourite things to do at Christmas: from donning gaudy jumpers and engaging in alcohol-fuelled acts of machismo to abiding by time-honoured religious rituals, braving extreme temperatures, and enjoying a flutter at the races!
1. Christmas Jumpers
Irish people just love to show their festive spirit by donning (“wearing”) a good ol’ gaudy (“extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless”) Christmas Geansaí (Gaelic for “jumper” or “sweater”).
2. The 12 Pubs of Christmas
The 12 pubs of Christmas, or sometimes simply called “12 pubs,” is an annual drinking game where groups of friends, donning the aforementioned Christmas Jumpers, gather together and traverse the towns and cities of Ireland, stopping at (and drinking at) 12 pubs along the way! Over the past decade or so, “12 pubs” is an activity that has become aligned with alcohol-fuelled debauchery and frivolous behaviour that is seemingly synonymous with the festive season itself. . . . Not for the faint-hearted!
3. Midnight Mass
If you’re looking for a church stuffed to the rafters (“completely packed with people”) look no further that any Catholic Church in Ireland at midnight mass on Christmas Eve. This is a country-wide tradition and a huge social gathering where, after a few tipples (“alcoholic drinks”) at the local pub, family, friends and neighbours, who may not have seen each other all year round, come together and celebrate Christmas at their local church.
4. The “Forty Foot” Christmas Day Swim
While Christmas day swims occur all over Ireland on Christmas morning, the most famous is probably that of the “Forty Foot” rock in South Dublin. On Christmas Day, hundreds of people, often receiving sponsorship for charities, can be seen jumping off the rock into the Irish Sea, braving extremely cold temperatures; also not for the faint-hearted, though it is supposed to be a very effective hangover cure!
5. Horse races on St. Stephen’s Day
In Ireland, heading off to (“going to,” or “attending” ) the Horse Races held annually the day after Christmas is a chance to get out of the house, stretch one’s legs, and place some bets while enjoying yet another drink with friends. The horse races held in Leopardstown, South Dublin, on St. Stephen’s Day attract almost 20,000 visitors every year and are another great way of spreading Christmas cheer!
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