Christmas preparations begin in early November, when Christmas pudding starts appearing in homes and shops across Ireland. Pudding is a rich dessert made from a blend of dried fruit, spices, flour, and liqueur. The whole family takes part in making it—it's considered a lucky charm ritual. After steaming, the pudding rests for about eight hours, filling the house with a wonderful aroma of fruit and spices.
The Sunday before Christmas, the entire family gathers—mother, father, children, grandchildren—to eat together and exchange gifts.
On Christmas Day itself, everyone stays home to spend time as a family, and the children open their presents from Father Christmas.
When I was a girl, on Christmas Eve we would follow the news from Father Christmas's workshop at the North Pole. Once he set off on his journey around the world, we'd all go to bed so he'd find us asleep when he arrived at our door. Today's children can track Father Christmas's route on their computers. When he reaches Europe they head to bed, but many find it harder to fall asleep the way we used to.
Churches are decorated with garlands and ivy. Some have Christmas trees; all have a nativity scene in front of the altar. On Christmas morning, children take gifts from the tree to share with everyone else. Midnight Mass is celebrated in the larger churches, while smaller ones hold their service earlier in the evening.
I remember being small—the early 1950s, Christmas Eve—walking through the snow with my mother and all my brothers and sisters on our way to midnight Mass. We held hands the whole way through the darkness, careful not to slip in the snow.
A swim in the freezing ocean waters has become a Christmas Day tradition, a fundraiser for those in need. Some people do the "ice dip" instead on Saint Stephen's Day.
Saint Stephen's Day brings the tradition of hunting the wren. Groups go around the neighborhood entertaining people with music, dancing, and traditional songs. They're usually invited inside and end up joining the local festivities. It's typically young people dressed in matching costumes, ready to put on a show.
Traditional Christmas dishes are chicken, ham, pork, roast, and every kind of vegetable. For dessert there's Christmas pudding and mince pies, trifles—little layered desserts in glasses, made with sponge cake and topped with cherries or other fruit.
Many of the traditions I knew as a child have changed. I hope I've given you a taste of Christmas in Ireland.
Mary, Ireland