5 ways reindeer are perfect for pulling Santa's sleigh Reindeer can stay warm, see in the dark, stay upright on slippery surfaces and find food in the harshest of environments Christmas • 23 Dec
5 ways reindeer are perfect for pulling Santa's sleigh Reindeer can stay warm, see in the dark, stay upright on slippery surfaces and find food in the harshest of environments Christmas • 23 Dec
Noel, Stephen, Holly, Nollaig: the names we give Christmas babies Many Christmas babies have traditionally carried a key sign throughout their lives of when they were born in the form of their name Baby Names • 22 Dec
Noel, Stephen, Holly, Nollaig: the names we give Christmas babies Many Christmas babies have traditionally carried a key sign throughout their lives of when they were born in the form of their name Baby Names • 22 Dec
'I'll see you the Wran's Day in Dingle While the St Stephen's Day tradition of hunting the wran has largely died out elsewhere, it continues with great gusto in Dingle, Co Kerry St Stephens Day • 21 Dec
'I'll see you the Wran's Day in Dingle While the St Stephen's Day tradition of hunting the wran has largely died out elsewhere, it continues with great gusto in Dingle, Co Kerry St Stephens Day • 21 Dec
What was Christmas like in rural Ireland back in the day? Here are seven snapshots of how Christmas used to be marked in Ireland Christmas • 21 Dec
What was Christmas like in rural Ireland back in the day? Here are seven snapshots of how Christmas used to be marked in Ireland Christmas • 21 Dec
12 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep - and how to fix it Between late nights, travel and a few extra drinks, Christmas is one of the worst times of the year for sleep so what can you do about it? Christmas • 21 Dec
12 ways Christmas wrecks your sleep - and how to fix it Between late nights, travel and a few extra drinks, Christmas is one of the worst times of the year for sleep so what can you do about it? Christmas • 21 Dec
How the Wexford Carol gave me respite and solace at Christmas Christmas carols like the Wexford Carol can be a conduit for joy and celebration in the darkest of times Christmas • 21 Dec
How the Wexford Carol gave me respite and solace at Christmas Christmas carols like the Wexford Carol can be a conduit for joy and celebration in the darkest of times Christmas • 21 Dec
Why do we associate robins with Christmas? We associate robins with Christmas for reasons ingrained in our history, culture and popular fables Christmas • 21 Dec
Why do we associate robins with Christmas? We associate robins with Christmas for reasons ingrained in our history, culture and popular fables Christmas • 21 Dec
How the wren became the king of all birds A huge number of folklore traditions and rituals have grown up around the little wren, especially at this time of year Christmas • 21 Dec
How the wren became the king of all birds A huge number of folklore traditions and rituals have grown up around the little wren, especially at this time of year Christmas • 21 Dec
The story behind The Pogues' beloved 'Fairytale of New York' The Pogues' Christmas classic owes its iconic name to the work of Irish-American writer J.P. Donleavy. Christmas • 20 Dec
The story behind The Pogues' beloved 'Fairytale of New York' The Pogues' Christmas classic owes its iconic name to the work of Irish-American writer J.P. Donleavy. Christmas • 20 Dec
How Newgrange's spectacular Solstice light show was rediscovered Those who flock to Newgrange on 21 December owe much to the excavation work of archaeologist Michael J O'Kelly in the 1960s Winter Solstice • 20 Dec
How Newgrange's spectacular Solstice light show was rediscovered Those who flock to Newgrange on 21 December owe much to the excavation work of archaeologist Michael J O'Kelly in the 1960s Winter Solstice • 20 Dec
How to survive Christmas with your family and in-laws Christmas is the ultimate pressure cooker for families, couples and individuals with so much stress to have a picture-perfect season Christmas • 20 Dec
How to survive Christmas with your family and in-laws Christmas is the ultimate pressure cooker for families, couples and individuals with so much stress to have a picture-perfect season Christmas • 20 Dec
How medieval Irish elites feasted and fought at Christmas The great households of medieval Ireland were experts at wielding their hospitality and their power at Christmas festivities Christmas • 20 Dec
How medieval Irish elites feasted and fought at Christmas The great households of medieval Ireland were experts at wielding their hospitality and their power at Christmas festivities Christmas • 20 Dec
Why celebrating Christmas is good for your mental health After a tough year, embracing the spirit of Christmas and the New Year may be good for our mental health Christmas • 20 Dec
Why celebrating Christmas is good for your mental health After a tough year, embracing the spirit of Christmas and the New Year may be good for our mental health Christmas • 20 Dec
Why It's A Wonderful Life is still a winner today Frank Capra's masterpiece remains a Christmas classic because the film still speaks to many to us at this time of year Christmas • 19 Dec
Why It's A Wonderful Life is still a winner today Frank Capra's masterpiece remains a Christmas classic because the film still speaks to many to us at this time of year Christmas • 19 Dec
From head to mistletoe: the curious biology of elves Through the lens of this imagined elf, we take a look at general anatomy, using scientific principles and a nod to the Will Ferrell movie Elf Christmas • 19 Dec
From head to mistletoe: the curious biology of elves Through the lens of this imagined elf, we take a look at general anatomy, using scientific principles and a nod to the Will Ferrell movie Elf Christmas • 19 Dec
A short history of mummers, straw boys and Wren Boys From mummers to wren boys, the practice of rambling from house to house in rural Ireland lifted isolation for many communities at Christmas Christmas • 18 Dec
A short history of mummers, straw boys and Wren Boys From mummers to wren boys, the practice of rambling from house to house in rural Ireland lifted isolation for many communities at Christmas Christmas • 18 Dec
What will the rest of Europe be watching on TV over Christmas? Forget Mrs Brown's Boys, traditional European Christmas TV faves include Donald Duck, Dinner for One, cinepanettoni and Soviet architecture Christmas • 20 Dec
What will the rest of Europe be watching on TV over Christmas? Forget Mrs Brown's Boys, traditional European Christmas TV faves include Donald Duck, Dinner for One, cinepanettoni and Soviet architecture Christmas • 20 Dec
Do you know these 7 great Irish Christmas traditions? From the Christmas box to An Margadh Mór, here are some memorable Irish Christmas traditions from years past History • 20 Dec
Do you know these 7 great Irish Christmas traditions? From the Christmas box to An Margadh Mór, here are some memorable Irish Christmas traditions from years past History • 20 Dec
What Christmas movies reveal about social change over the decades From Jingle All the Way to Die Hard, Christmas films are perfect record keepers of social change and how we evolve as a society Christmas • 17 Dec
What Christmas movies reveal about social change over the decades From Jingle All the Way to Die Hard, Christmas films are perfect record keepers of social change and how we evolve as a society Christmas • 17 Dec
Can scientists answer kids' questions about Santa Claus? Irish school kids ask questions about what Santa does on Christmas Eve and a bunch of scientists try to provide the answers Christmas • 20 Dec
Can scientists answer kids' questions about Santa Claus? Irish school kids ask questions about what Santa does on Christmas Eve and a bunch of scientists try to provide the answers Christmas • 20 Dec
How Irish growers turn poinsettias into iconic Christmas plants Behind the vintage Christmas plant decorating your home is a high‑tech nursery business operating on thin margins Christmas • 17 Dec
How Irish growers turn poinsettias into iconic Christmas plants Behind the vintage Christmas plant decorating your home is a high‑tech nursery business operating on thin margins Christmas • 17 Dec
A short history of extreme weather events at Christmas in Ireland From frosty 1338, when Dubliners played football on the Liffey, to the epic snow of 2010, fierce weather conditions often hit Ireland over Christmas Weather • 16 Dec
A short history of extreme weather events at Christmas in Ireland From frosty 1338, when Dubliners played football on the Liffey, to the epic snow of 2010, fierce weather conditions often hit Ireland over Christmas Weather • 16 Dec
Claus for concern: should we be worried about Santa's health? While Santa's appearance may be synonymous with the season of goodwill, it doesn't suggest that he's in the best of health Santa Claus • 15 Dec
Claus for concern: should we be worried about Santa's health? While Santa's appearance may be synonymous with the season of goodwill, it doesn't suggest that he's in the best of health Santa Claus • 15 Dec
Why you feel pressure to adhere to Christmas traditions Many of these pressures around your lengthy Christmas to-do list have their basis in social norms, not actual rules Christmas • 11 Dec
Why you feel pressure to adhere to Christmas traditions Many of these pressures around your lengthy Christmas to-do list have their basis in social norms, not actual rules Christmas • 11 Dec
Can willpower help you resist Christmas overspending? Research shows that planning and setting intentions prevents impulsive responses, even at this time of year Christmas • 10 Dec
Can willpower help you resist Christmas overspending? Research shows that planning and setting intentions prevents impulsive responses, even at this time of year Christmas • 10 Dec
