Christmas in Ireland: St. Stephen’s Day

Christmas in Ireland: Christmas Preparations

Christmas in Ireland: Christmas Eve in Times Past

Christmas in Ireland: Christmas Eve Today

December 26, St. Stephen’s Day, is a national holiday in Ireland. The wren hunt and forms of mumming, such as mummers’ plays, entertain many people on that day. The wren hunters often contribute part of their earnings to fund the St. Stephen’s Day dances popular throughout Ireland on the evening of December 26. Other traditional St. Stephen’s Day pastimes include sporting events, especially steeplechasing and fox hunting.