By: Caroleann Gallagher
The WBAI hosted its Third Annual “Nollaig na mBan” event at the Dearborn on January 7, 2025. I hail from Ireland and I introduced this heartfelt and lovely tradition to the WBAI 3 years ago, and the event is now a favorite for our members and board. “Nollaig na mBan” is a tradition celebrated in Ireland on the 12th and final day of Christmas, January 6th. Traditionally in the 1900s, when more of the household and family chores were not as evenly divided as they are (or should be) now, January 6th was carved out as a day where Moms and women of the home were allowed and encouraged to rest, kick back and celebrate getting through the chaos of the holidays with their female friends.
While today we hope that the gender imbalance is not as prominent as it was in the 1900s, we all know and recognize that women are still very much “the makers of the merriment”. No matter how supportive our other halves are, women are generally still the ones taking on the burden of making the holidays just right for family and friends. This burden is immense and far-reaching, ranging from grocery shopping, preparing food, decorating our homes, baking the cookies, buying the children’s gifts, planning childcare for school holidays, acknowledging teachers and coaches, buying the matching pajamas for that Christmas Eve photo, sending out Christmas cards, nibbling the carrots and moving that damn Elf all over the house!
More recently, “Nollaig na mBan” became an opportunity for women to get together after the chaos of Christmas, to gather with their female friends and raise a glass to each other in camaraderie and support. I have celebrated this tradition, along with my mother and grandmother for years in Ireland, and I am so glad to bring this lovely tradition to our USA hearts.
Every year, I have read this poem at the event to remind us all of what is really important over the holidays and to remind us all that our hard efforts do not go unnoticed. One day we will watch our children and grandchildren recreate these memories for their children, which will be an unforgettable sight and will reinforce for us all why – we will do it all again next year!
It will be YOU!
They don’t know it yet, but when they’re grown and starting their own Christmas tradition, it will be you they mirror.
Your family recipes will grace their holly dressed tables and the classic punch you spiked will come out after lunch. They’ll search for the same candle scent that you burned to get that nostalgic smell that is woven into their memories. They will play the carols that feel like home, that feel like you. Their children’s handmade snowmen and reindeer will be hung with pride just like theirs were, and carrots will be nibbled on Christmas Eve in the same way you did it all those years ago.
Morning elves, phantom sleigh bells and Santa photos will create the same joy and excitement for their kids that you created for them.
When they think of Christmas, it will be YOU.
It will be YOU they emulate, YOU they will remember.
YOU they will want to be for their kids.
You’re their memoires.
You’re their magic.
You’re their Christmas!
This article was originally published in the WBAI Winter 2025 Newsletter on page 41.