Is Nollaig na mBan the end of Christmas in Ireland
or does it last all the way 'til Candlemas in February?
In Ireland, the Christmas season stretches far beyond December 25th. It’s a time steeped in tradition and rhythm, encompassing Nollaig na mBan on January 6th and, in earlier times, extending all the way to Lá Fhéile Muire na gCoinneal / Candlemas on February 2nd, the day after Lá Fhéile Bríde, the traditional first day of spring. For our family, this long stretch of celebration feels even more personal: our middle daughter, Aoife, bookends the season with her Christmas Day birthday, while our youngest, Áine, brings it to a joyful close with her Candlemas Day birthday.
This slower rhythm of celebration reflects a deeper connection to the seasons and traditions that shape our lives. It’s a time steeped in tradition, memory, and meaning that carries us well into the new year. As we will gradually pack away our decorations during the month January there are lovely spaces to reflect on the fullness of this time, its stories, and its significance—from Nollaig na mBan to Candlemas, and even to moments that feel deeply personal in our own family.
This sense of community and tradition is something we also try to share with others through our #12WalksforChristmas—An Dá Shiúlóid Déag na Nollaig—which we run each year. These walks take place in beautiful locations around West Cork, bringing people together to enjoy the festive season and support local charities. Every cent raised goes directly to those in need locally, making it a meaningful way for us all to give back while soaking up the magic of Christmas with our friends and our guests.
Growing up here in West Cork, I learned not to be in a rush to put up or take down the Christmas tree. In our home, we didn’t put up the tree until after the 8th of December, which traditionally marked the beginning of the season in rural Ireland.
Locally, the piseóg held that it was considered bad luck to take down Christmas decorations before the 7th of January at the very earliest. This belief tied into the tradition of Nollaig na mBan on January 6th, also known as Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas. Deeply rooted in Cork’s culture, this was a day when women gathered to celebrate the end of the Christmas season. Sharing drinks, treats, and stories, it was their well-earned moment to relax after the hard work of hosting and feeding the household. This tradition added cultural weight to leaving the tree up for the women’s celebration, making it a meaningful way to honour the season.
But, for me, the season doesn’t fully close with Nollaig na mBan. Candlemas Day on February 2nd—La Fhéile Muire na gCoinnle in Irish—feels like the real end of the story. Coming just after Lá Fhéile Bríde, the traditional first day of spring in Ireland, it’s a day that ties the threads of Christmas to spring, marking the Christian Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Our local priest, Fr Bernard, often reminds us that Candlemas is the true end of Christmas, so there’s no need to rush into #DryJanuary or fad diets just yet. Instead, it’s a chance to ease into the new year with the same warmth and reflection that carried us through the festive season. Symbolically, it’s the moment when the last echoes of the Christmas story give way to the hope of longer days and new beginnings for the year ahead.
In our family, Candlemas holds a particularly special place. Our youngest daughter, Áine, was born on Candlemas Day, bringing a beautiful sense of renewal and light to the end of the season. It’s a day that feels both sacred and personal, a moment when we take stock of all the joy Christmas brought and look forward to what’s ahead. It’s impossible to let Candlemas pass unnoticed, especially when it’s paired with the laughter and excitement of celebrating Áine’s birthday.
Equally, Christmas Day itself has a glow of its own in our home, as it’s the birthday of our eldest daughter, Aoife. For her, the house fills with the dual joy of celebrating her life and the gift of Christmas itself. It’s these personal connections that remind me that the season’s spirit is much more than the dates on a calendar; it’s about the stories we carry and share.
That said, it’s hard not to feel frustrated with the way the commercial Christmas now seems to dominate the calendar. From the moment Halloween ends, shops bombard us with tinsel, jingles, and flashing lights. It feels like the deeper meaning of the season gets lost in the rush to buy and consume. By the time December 25th arrives, many people are already tired of Christmas, having celebrated it since early November.
Yet, here in Ireland, our traditions remind us that Christmas isn’t about rushing to the finish line—it’s about the quiet unfolding of joy, from Advent all the way through to at least Nollaig na mBan and for some all the way to Candlemas, with space to reflect and savour each part of the journey. here in West Cork, many of us still honour these traditions in small ways. Decorations often stay up much longer than they might elsewhere, holding onto the light and colour of Christmas as we weather the darkest weeks of the year. It’s as if we’re reluctant to let the magic fade too soon, and I think there’s wisdom in that.
As we will slowly pack away the last of the baubles and take one final look at the tree this month, I will think of the glow it brought to our home over the past weeks. The stories, the laughter, and even the quiet moments by its light have all left their mark. Christmas may be over, but its spirit lingers on—through Nollaig na mBan, all the way to Candlemas, and through the memories that brighten the winter darkness.
To all who have shared in this season with us, go raibh maith agaibh. Let’s carry the warmth and light of Christmas into 2025—and if anyone gives you grief about leaving the decorations up, just tell them Conor and Elizabeth II said you’ve got until Áine’s birthday on Candlemas, February 2nd till you have to take them down!
