Today, January 6th, is known in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan, or Women's Christmas.

Traditionally, the day is seen as an opportunity for women to relax or meet with friends in recognition of their household labour over Christmas.

On Newstalk Breakfast, author and broadcaster Barbara Scully said she is "all for" Nollaig na mBan.

"I love any excuse to gather with my female friends - women know that our female friends are terribly important," she said.

"I love the way it connects us with our past - I love the idea that in Ireland we’re celebrating the ordinary women, the women who still make Christmas happen.”

Patriarchy

Ms Scully said Nollaig na mBan is an important date, particularly given the world we live in.

"We certainly did live in a society or a country where it wasn’t always a great place to be a woman - we still live in patriarchy," she said.

In Ms Scully's experience, women tend to do the bulk of the preparation for Christmas.

"I'm thinking back to when my kids were younger and I was the matriarch and had 12, 13 or 14 people for dinner at Christmas - Christmas was a huge amount of hard work," she said.

"I think it's nice that that is acknowledged."

Some critics of Nollaig na mBan say that it is patronising to give women one day of celebration in recognition of several weeks of work.

Woman and child cutting out Christmas cookies, Alamy

"It probably is a bit patronising - but so what? Take the win." said Ms Scully.

"When my kids were younger and the burdens were heavier, I had a list of dates where I’d say ‘the kitchen’s closed and I’m off duty’.

"The first was Nollaig na mBan followed by my birthday, followed by Easter, followed by May Day, followed by International Women’s Day.” 

A 2019 study found that Irish women on average do 20 hours of chores a week - while men do only nine.

Feature image shows two women at a Christmas fair, Alamy.