The twelfth and final day of Christmas, January 6, was known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan or Women’s Christmas or Little Christmas. Traditionally it was a day of reward for women’s hard work over the Christmas season, and was a day off from all house work as traditional roles were supposed to be reversed in the home: men did the household chores while women rested and gathered together informally and visited friends and neighbours to enjoy the last of the Christmas cake. However, this tradition is now very much recognised as a day of celebrating all women and the immense contributions they make in every aspect of life, to all those they work with and live with. On this 6th day of January, 2025, I’d like to celebrate and honour all the wonderful, gifted, talented and brave women I have been lucky to have known in my life, happy Nollaig na mBan to you all.
