What’s 'Women’s Christmas?' A unique Irish tradition that honors women after the holidays on January 6

Women have spent way too many hours working overtime in their homes to keep the holiday sparkling. Now that the season is coming to an end, they are beyond exhausted and need a break, and Ireland has it planned to the T. According to TODAY, the women in Ireland are enjoying a much-deserved break by celebrating a “Women’s Christmas” on January 6 to truly celebrate the season and themselves. They’re not carrying the load of prepping meals, wrapping gifts, or cleaning; they’re just beating misogyny and giving themselves a well-earned celebration. 

Irish history communicator Jane Casey revealed that holidays often have “misogynistic” roots due to the excessive labor women take on. The idea of women having a day to relax and unwind comes from the 19th century. Known as the "Nollaig na mBan," or “Women’s Christmas,” this day is celebrated every year on January 6 in Ireland. The special day also coincides with the Christian feast of the Epiphany and marks the 12th day of Christmas, when most homes conclude the season by taking down the decorations and tree. Having worked hard throughout the holidays to make it a delightful season for others, women take the day off to rest. 

While gender-associated roles have been undergoing changes, women still find themselves overloaded with things to do to keep the festive season going, and so even today, they very much deserve the day to themselves. Mary McAuliffe, a historian and the Director of Gender Studies at University College Dublin, shared with National Geographic that the men of the house ideally help give the women rest and ensure they have a well-arranged celebration. Traditionally, women would go to a bar or to one another’s homes and just enjoy themselves. Dr. Marion McGarry, a researcher and author on Irish customs and history, noted, “In Cork City, they would say the only man out in the city on Women’s Christmas was the bishop.”

The main idea was “acknowledgement of all the work [the women] had put in through the Christmas period, and this was their Christmas dinner,” McAuliffe revealed. A woman named Hadas Knox posted about the tradition and how she celebrated it. “I will admit I trapped my Irish husband with this one,” she remarked, adding that she called up some of her friends to enjoy a day out. But with enjoyment, the women also unveiled the many exhausting realities they faced over the holidays, despite having support from their partners and families.

"What struck me most was how quickly it sparked deeper questions about rest, invisible labor, and how much trust we place in one another at home," Knox noted. According to a study by the University of Bath, even today, mothers hold 67% of the mental load when it comes to things to be done. Co-author Dr Helen Kowalewska, lecturer in Bath’s Department of Social & Policy Sciences, explained, “Once organisational tasks are assigned to mothers – and inevitably, they usually are – they tend to stick.” Data from Civic Science highlighted that 58% of women said they feel more stressed during the holidays because of the hectic schedules ahead of them. 

So it’s fitting to have a day that celebrates them because they truly make the season happen. Today, Irish women have tweaked the idea creatively. With time, this has eased into a flexible celebration, ensuring the focus is on women. They still dress up, still unwind, just in the way they want to. Some even take their heritage seriously and use the day to spread awareness about women’s issues or highlight women's organizations and more. Though years have passed, the crux of the holiday is the same — “It’s not about the men,” as said in a video shared by Gifts of Ireland. “I think this quaint-looking Irish tradition was quite feminist, really, in its own way. Nollaig na mBan acknowledged women’s labor and even rewarded women for it, even if just for one day,” McGarry remarked. 

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