1. The Toy Show.
Think about it, basically the entire country plants themselves in front of the TV and watches two and half hours of awkward live interactions between petrified children and toys that seem to malfunction more often than not.
Not to mention the guaranteed emotional punch in the gut of a parent or family member randomly turning up unexpectedly home for Christmas.
You couldn't script it! In fact they don't... and that's what makes it so good.
This photo basically sums it all up!2. Buying a massive box of ‘Christmas Tayto’ and living off them for the whole festive period.
Forget your five-a-day.
All you need to sustain yourself over the festive break is a big huge massive box of 'Christmas Tayto'.
Simple as that.
The ultimate household staple.3. Calling Santa Claus ‘Santy’, like he's a dear close friend.
Whereas most counties refer to the big man as Santa Claus or just 'Santa'.
We have a little more intimate relationship with the jolly fellow.
And by all reports 'Santy' loves the fact we have our own little unique nickname for him...and he doesn't mind the Guinness either.
So does mean we'll get better presents?
4. Midnight Mass.
Even non-ardent church goers make an exception for midnight mass.
This is the order of events goes as follows:
- Get Mass "out of the way"
- Spend Christmas Day melting into the couch stuffing your face with selection boxes
- Repeat for several hours
And that's the way it should be.
A familiar sight on Christmas Eve.5. 12 Pubs of Christmas.
We mean...what can you really say about this one?
Round up the gang and crack on.
It's an institution, and long may it continue!
6. The entire pub singing Fairytale of New York.
''It was Christmas Eve baaaabe, in the drunk tannnnk!''
Don't act like you've never completely lost control of your vocal chords when this banger came on in your local.
Fairytale of New York basically becomes the national anthem for a month every year, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
7. A freezing Christmas Day swim.
Who'd be crazy enough to try it?
We would of course! If you live near the ocean, you're bound to have at least dipped your toes in the water on Christmas Day.
The annual swim at Blackrock in Salthill, Co. Galway is an annual pilgrimage.
It's also rather chilly.
The fact it's almost Christmas 2018 is just absurd, but it's true. So as a gift, we've gotten you this:
Retro Drive-in Movies and iRadio are teaming up again - and this time, it’s festive.
From Friday November 30th until December the 2nd, the hottest ticket in the west will again be Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway.
Deck your car with boughs of holly, pack some blankets and a thermos of hot chocolate, sit back, relax and soak in some cult Christmas classics!
We’re talking the likes of Elf, Home Alone 1 & 2, Santa Claus: The Movie, The Polar Express and Love Actually.
All on the biggest outdoor LED screen in the world.
If you're keen on going (which of course you are) you can grab your tickets HERE!
