Little Christmas

Little Christmas is a special celebration that happens on January 6th. It is also called Old Christmas and is mainly observed by Irish Christians and the Amish. This day is known as the Feast of the Epiphany, which comes after the twelve days of Christmastide.

People prepare for Little Christmas by fasting, and then they celebrate by having a Christmas dinner. The focus of this day is to remember the birth of Jesus by going to church services and spending time with family.

There are many fun customs on Little Christmas, like burning Christmas candles, singing Christmas carols, chalking the door, and having a special blessing for the house. It is a time for reflection, joy, and togetherness after the holiday season.

Origins

Because different churches used different calendars, some places celebrated Christmas on January 6 instead of December 25. In 1582, a new calendar was created to fix a problem with the old calendar. This change made dates shift, so Christmas sometimes was celebrated on different days.

Because of these changes, some people began calling January 6 "Old Christmas." Even when the calendars changed again later, some still kept this tradition. This day is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany.

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Observance by country

Europe

In the Scottish Highlands, the term Little Christmas (Scottish Gaelic: Nollaig Bheag) is used for New Year's Day, also called Là Challuinn or Là na Bliadhna Ùire, while Epiphany is known as Là Féill nan Rìgh, the feast-day of the Kings. The Transalpine Redemptorists who live on Papa Stronsay in Scotland, celebrate 'Little Christmas' on the twenty-fifth day of every month, except for December, when the twenty-fifth day is celebrated as Christmas Day. The custom of blessing homes on Epiphany developed because the feast commemorates the time that the three kings visited the home of the Holy Family.

In the late 19th century, the day was also known as Little Christmas in some parts of England, such as Lancashire. In the Isle of Man, New Year's Day on 1 January was formerly called Laa Nolick beg in Manx, or Little Christmas Day, while 6 January was referred to as Old Christmas Day. The name Little Christmas is also found in other languages including Slovene (mali Božič), Galician (Nadalinho), and Ukrainian.

In Scandinavia, where the main celebration of Christmas is on Christmas Eve (24 December), the evening of 23 December is known as little Christmas Eve (Danish: lillejuleaften).

In some parts of the Spanish-speaking world, the emphasis of Christmas Day is on family dinner reunion and church attendance, while gifts are exchanged on the Feast of the Epiphany, when according to tradition the Three Wise Men brought gifts to the Child Jesus. Tradition names them Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. It is an important celebration in Spanish-speaking countries, mainly dedicated to children, who receive their gifts on the morning of 6 January. In some countries, like Spain, it is a public holiday that marks the end of the Christmas season which started on Christmas Eve (24 December).

In the Western Christian world, the two traditional days when Christmas decorations are removed are Twelfth Night (the night before the Feast of the Epiphany) and if they are not taken down on that day, Candlemas, the latter of which ends the Christmas-Epiphany season in some denominations.

Ireland: Nollaig na mBan, or Women's Christmas

In some parts of Ireland, Little Christmas is also called Nollaig na mBan (in Irish) or Women's Christmas (in English). The day is so called because, traditionally, men would take on household duties for the day, giving women the day off. Goose was the traditional meat served on Women's Christmas.

Women customarily hold parties or go out to socialise with their female friends and relatives on the day. As a result, parties of women and girls are common in bars and restaurants on the night. While the tradition had been dying off in some parts of the country, the hospitality industry now specifically advertises events aimed at those celebrating Nollaig na mBan. In 2024, a number of Nollaig na mBan events took place around the country: Dublin City Council held a Nollaig na mBan Festival celebrating the women of the inner city; the men of Trillick St Macartan's Gaelic Athletic Club in County Tyrone organised and served at a "thank you" high tea for the women in their lives; and over 2,400 women took part in sea swims around the country to raise funds for Women's Aid.

In Ireland, it is the traditional day to remove the Christmas tree and decorations, as it is seen as bad luck to leave them in place past the twelfth day of Christmas. Until 2013, it was the last day of the Christmas holidays for both primary and secondary schools in Ireland.

North America

Some Anabaptists, such as the Amish and Mennonites, celebrate Christmas as a religious feast-day on 6 January. Believers prepare for Old Christmas through fasting, which is opened on Old Christmas through the consumption of Christmas dinner. The emphasis of Old Christmas celebrations is on reflecting on the birth of Jesus, as well as visiting with family and friends.

Celebration of Christmas Day on 6 January is reflected in the words of The Cherry-Tree Carol, an English folk-song that migrated to Appalachia in the Eastern United States.

Other meanings

In Irish set dancing, "Little Christmas" describes a special dance move. During this move, four dancers hold hands behind their partners' backs and spin in a circle, usually for eight musical beats. The women in the dance act in a playful way, switching partners, which mirrors an old tradition of celebrating in homes.