The charming and beautiful country of Ireland is known for its pomp and musical celebrations and with most of its population being Roman Catholic; you can expect the best of glitz and festivities when it comes to Christmas. From street celebrations, church unions, gala dinners to horse races, Christmas is known to bring out the best in Ireland. Known to possess unique traditions that have been passed on from one generation to another, Irish families certainly know how to add their own charm to this momentous occasion of love.
For Irish people, Christmas is not just a festival of joy, but it also holds religious values making it even more special. These are some of the most common Christmas traditions followed by the people of Ireland.
• Light a candle: One of the most ancient traditions, lightening a candle and placing it on the window is considered a symbol of welcoming strangers as well as remembering family members away from home. Lit by the youngest member of the family, it’s also considered a way of remembering the great Mary and Joseph.
• Home décor with the ring of holly: It’s a common tradition for most families to decorate their homes with lights and Christmas tree, but no Irish celebration can be complete without decorating the front door with the holly wreath. Available freely during winters, holly carries the traditions journey a step forward every year.
• Church midnight mass: Huge social gatherings and live music becomes the flavor of local churches at midnight where neighbors meet and celebrate the occasion. With Christmas carols being sung everywhere, the moment looks nothing short of a carnival and must be experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime.
• Christmas swim: Come Christmas and you’ll see the freezing Irish Sea stuffed with people in their bathing suits swimming crazily. An annual event, the tradition attracts thousands of people and is just another fascinating way Irish people celebrate this amazing festival.
• The big fat Christmas dinner: Irish people are known for their love for food and Christmas presents them the perfect opportunity to treat their taste buds with exotic delicacies. Preparations start on the Christmas Eve with the whole family participating in the affair that promises delicious turkeys, vegetables, sweets and much more.
• Horse race: What better way to wind off the celebrations then a horse race on St Stephens Day which is a day after the Christmas. Considered a way of honoring the saint, 20,000 spectators crowd south Dublin for this annual event which takes the celebrations to an all together new level.
Spanning over 2 weeks, Christmas in Ireland is celebrated with the same zeal as it was decades back regardless of the wrath of winters. If you also have someone special in Irelandwith whom you would like to celebrate Christmas and experience the plethora of Irish traditions, then booking early is certainly the way to go. Not only do you get cheap airline tickets, you can also get combo festive deals that offer discounts on your hotel accommodation.
