Written by Ciaran Vipond on Dec 12, 2022 | 2 Comments
It’s almost time to break out the good “biscuits” from the “Christmas Cupboard”. “Santy” has written his list and he’s checking it twice. The “socks” are hung by the chimney with care, while we all settle in for the “Late Late Toy Show.”
Don’t worry if some of that got lost in translation. We Irish have a way with words and Christmas is no different!
Now of course every family will have their own holiday traditions and will celebrate and describe the festive season in their own way. But below are a few of the most widely practiced traditions surrounding Christmas in Ireland. So whether you’re celebrating this festive season in Dublin or elsewhere, you can use one of these Irish Christmas-isms to lend an Irish flavour to proceedings. Or surprise your friends and family around the Christmas dinner table this year with your Irish Christmas knowledge!
When you are heading off to one of the many parties that comes with this time of year what do you wear? A Christmas Sweater? Here in Ireland these woolen wonders are called a Christmas Jumper. Whether knitted by your granny or bought in a shop, these itchy, and possibly quite tacky creations are everywhere in Ireland at this time of year. Christmas Jumper Days have become a seasonal fundraiser for charities.
What do you call the small, gifts found in a stocking on Christmas morning? In Ireland, they’re “stocking fillers” while our North American friends tell us they are “stocking stuffers.”
And for many Irish people it is a sock that is being filled or stuffed not a stocking. “Did Santy leave you anything nice in your sock?” is a common question directed at children in houses around Ireland each Christmas. Whatever you call it, we hope you find a maide milis, a Candy Cane, in it on December 25th.
As we alluded to above, the Man in the Big Red Suit might answer to a slightly different name, depending on where you first heard Christmas carols. Here in Ireland, “Santy” is the classic.
There is also an occasional and more formal "Father Christmas", a direct translation from the Irish “Daidí na Nollag.” But his North American moniker, “Santa” is certainly growing in popularity. Whatever you call him, we hope he is “good to you” all this year!
Now this is one of our favourites because either way, whether you’re partial to the Irish “Happy” Christmas or the North American “Merry”, the sentiment is the same.
If you’d like to really impress your family around the table this year, Ciaran is here to help you learn how to say “Nollaig Shona Duit” or Happy Christmas in Irish.
Did you already know some of these Irish holiday-isms? We're sure there are more we should have on our list - let us know so we can include it.
Have a question or something you're not entirely sure about when browsing our pieces? Please reach out. You can send us a note or give us a call—the Dublin workshop is here to make sure that you have a perfect experience from start to finish with My Irish Jeweler.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, to see what's new and upcoming. Join our Email list for early offers and special features.
Ciaran Vipond
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for the recommendation, Leslie! Of course, we could be more diversified in our good wishes -- especially in a season known for warmth and hospitality. I've asked our resident Irish speaker for a suggestion on how one might say "Have a wonderful festival of lights" and we came up with: "Bíodh Féile na Soilse íontach agat" or " Bíodh Féile na Soilse íontach agaibh" if you are addressing more than one person. Thank you for helping us to learn how to be more inclusive, today!
Ask Gemma
You might start with the Irish equivalent of Happy Hanukkhah for those who are of the Jewish Faith, in addition to the Happy Christmas which y'all use for greeting those of the Christian Faith during the Holiday Season.
Hanukkah sona duit.