Musings: In 2022 is Nollaig na mBan still a day off for mothers?

I have to say, it doesn't feel much like a day off for me.

In Ireland women have been gathering together on 6th January ‘Nollaig na mBan’ or ‘Women’s Christmas’ for so long no one is sure when this heart-warming tradition began. While still to this day it is recognized in Ireland and we all share a little social media post about it, is it really what it used to be? Is Nollaig na mBan really still a day off for mums? For me personally, I'll be spending this Nollaig na mBan in isolation as we all have covid, running around after my kids who want a thousand snacks, while also trying to work from home. It could not feel any less of a day off, so I really don't know if the tradition has stuck that well. That being said I don't resent not having this one day off as I get help around the house all year long, which I much prefer. My husband and I split the household workload all year long, in fact most days he's the one who will get the dinner started as he's a potato peeling wizard, and I much rather that than only getting help once a year. One part of Nollaig na mBan I do think should stay is meeting up with female friends and having a nice girly day of it. Unfortunately, due to Covid I won't be able to do that with my gal pals today, but hopefully when this all blows over we can meet up for Galentines or a Mother's Day brunch. While I don't think we celebrate Nollaig na mBan the way we used to, I think there's a lot to be said for keeping the tradition alive in our own little way as it is unique to Ireland and we deserved to be hyped up every now and then.