An Irish emigrant in Hong Kong has said she finds it “strange” that the pubs are shut on Christmas day. 

Eda has lived in the Chinese Special Administrative Region for two years but also spent more than a decade living in South Korea. 

She says that “everything” is open on Christmas day and the city’s streets are much like any other day. 

“It is a public holiday, so offices are obviously closed and schools, of course,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

“But in terms of commercial or entertainment options like restaurants and bars and shops - yeah, they’re all open.” 

Last year, she went out for Christmas lunch and this year she plans on doing the same again. 

To her, the idea of nothing being open in Ireland on the 25th strikes her as being a little off. 

“It does seem a bit strange now because I’ve gotten used to everything being open,” she said. 

“But that’s just the way it is in Ireland.”

The Stags Headin Dublin City Center. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingews.ie

Until 2018, pubs in Ireland were not allowed to serve alcohol on Good Friday. 

The change was seen as Ireland embracing a more secular culture but Pádraic in Limerick said he would not like the Government to do likewise for Christmas. 

“It’s the one day of the year where you hopefully spend it with your family in the comfort of your own home or whatever the case may be,” he said. 

“I’m not banging on the pulpit saying it’s never to happen and it shouldn’t happen. 

“But we have to change our whole culture here when it comes to drinking… When’s enough like?” 

What about those publicans who want to open? 

“I think they will survive one day,” he said. 

Main image: Christmas decorations on The Temple Bar pub. Image: Roman Overko / Alamy Stock Photo