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Santa in Ireland: when presents come and what St Stephen's Day means
In Ireland Santa, Daidí na Nollag in Irish, comes in the night of Thursday 24 December 2026. The second day of Christmas is St Stephen's Day, and because it falls on a Saturday the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
Who brings the presents, and when
Santa Claus
25 December
Who brings the presents, and when
Santa Claus · 25 December
Children in Ireland call him Santa, and in Irish he is Daidí na Nollag, which is Daddy of Christmas. He is the same figure as in Britain and America, the descendant of Saint Nicholas via the Dutch Sinterklaas, and he comes in the night before Christmas Day. A visit from a gift-bringer overnight on Christmas Eve is recorded in Irish and Scottish accounts as early as the 1850s. For Irish households, the real marker of the season's end is not Santa but 6 January, Nollaig na mBan, when the Christmas decorations traditionally come down.
When the presents come
The presents are found on the morning of Friday 25 December 2026, after Santa's visit in the night of Thursday 24 December. That is the pattern for children across the country. The gifts that adults give each other are usually opened the same day, and the family dinner follows.
The overnight story comes from the Santa tradition shared with Britain and America. Written accounts from the 1850s already mention Irish and Scottish children finding presents in the morning, which shows how long the pattern has been in place.
St Stephen's Day, 26 December
Ireland calls 26 December St Stephen's Day, and in Northern Ireland it is Boxing Day. It is a bank holiday of its own, with football matches and horse-racing meetings on the day, and the Wren Boys procession, a very old tradition.
In 2026 it falls on a Saturday. Public-sector closure lists give Monday 28 December as the day in lieu of Saturday 26 December. Ireland has ten bank holidays a year since St Brigid's Day was added in 2023.
Letters to Santa with An Post
An Post's letters-to-Santa page gives the address as Santa Claus, The North Pole. Put a stamp in the top right corner of the envelope and the child's name and address in the top left, so Santa can reply.
An Post says Santa posts his replies to all the children in early December, in time to arrive just before Christmas. The page names no last-posting date, only to post as soon as possible, so the sooner the letter goes, the better.
Nollaig na mBan, 6 January
Women's Christmas, Nollaig na mBan, falls on Wednesday 6 January 2027, the twelfth day of Christmas. It is the traditional end of the season. On that day women set their household duties aside and the men took over, and the decorations come down.
It is not a public holiday and has no gift custom attached, but it is the date to keep in mind when you ask when Christmas really finishes.
Secret Santa, Irish style
Offices, schools and friend groups in Ireland draw names for Kris Kindle, the local word for Secret Santa. Our Kris Kindle page does the draw without sign-ups, and the countdown shows how many days remain.
Advent and bank holidays 2026/27 in Ireland
The dates a family in Ireland plans around, with weekdays.
- Sun 29 Nov, 6, 13, 20 Dec
- The four Advent Sundays.
- Thu 24 Dec
- Christmas Eve. Santa's night.
- Fri 25 Dec
- Christmas Day, bank holiday. Presents in the morning.
- Sat 26 Dec
- St Stephen's Day. Bank holiday.
- Mon 28 Dec
- Day in lieu of St Stephen's Day (Immigration office closure list).
- Fri 1 Jan
- New Year's Day 2027, bank holiday.
- Wed 6 Jan
- Nollaig na mBan, Women's Christmas. Not a bank holiday.
Bank holiday dates from Irish public-sector and press lists, read 28 October 2026; confirm on citizensinformation.ie.
Irish Immigration: 2026 office closure dates · Letterkenny Live: bank holidays in Ireland 2026
More for the Irish Christmas
Booking a visit
- Santa Claus
- €210 – €257
- 25 December
A costumed Santa visits, talks with the children, hands over the presents the family supplied, tells a story and poses for photos. Some bring a small grotto set. There is no fixed ritual like the Alpine or Nordic ones.
Only marketplace averages: about €210–257 nationally and around €250 in Dublin. No Irish operator publishes a rate card, so read these as the going rate, not a quote.
No Irish operator found names a lead time.
Gig Heaven — hire Santa Claus in Ireland · Santa Himself — Ireland
Common questions
- When do Irish children open their presents?
- On Christmas morning, Friday 25 December 2026. Santa is said to visit in the night of the 24th.
- What is Santa called in Irish?
- Daidí na Nollag, which means Daddy of Christmas. Most children simply say Santa.
- When is St Stephen's Day 2026, and is it a bank holiday?
- St Stephen's Day is Saturday 26 December. The bank holiday is observed on Monday 28 December, in lieu of the Saturday.
- Where do I post a letter to Santa in Ireland?
- Address it to Santa Claus, The North Pole, with a stamp on the top right and the child's name and address on the top left. An Post names no last-posting date and says replies go out in early December, so post early.
- What is the Wren Boys procession?
- A traditional procession held on St Stephen's Day, one of the oldest customs of the Irish Christmas.
- What is Nollaig na mBan?
- Women's Christmas, on 6 January, the twelfth day of Christmas. Traditionally women rested and the men took over the housework, and the decorations came down. In 2027 it is a Wednesday.