Christmas trees, matching pyjamas and hot chocolate are what makes Christmas great, according to Young Offenders star Demi Isaac Oviawe.

The Cork actress was speaking after the latest Newstalk survey found that Christmas dinner is Ireland’s favourite Christmas tradition.

The study, carried out by Amárach Research, found that more than half of people look forward to the big Christmas Day feed more than anything else over the holidays.

Watching Christmas movies came in second place while going to mass came in third etc.

The Christmas Day feast was more popular with respondents in Ulster than anywhere else in the country, with 64% of people saying it is the best part of the holidays.

Around one-in-six people (15%) said watching Christmas movies was the best part of the holidays – with people aged between 35 and 44 years old most likely to choose a film as their favourite thing.

Going to mass was the best thing about Christmas for 20% of people aged 55 and older, with just 1% of people under the age of 35 agreeing.

Some 8% of women said the 12 Pubs of Christmas was their favourite tradition, while just 2% of men agreed.

A cup of hot chocolate. Credit: Shutterstock.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Ms Oviawe said hot chocolate was the traditional Christmas beverage in her house growing up.

"Christmas traditions for us would be on Christmas Eve we would get a special mug and have a designated hot chocolate for everyone in the house,” she said.

“For example, because I’m old enough, I would have Bailey’s hot chocolate with some truffle chocolate in it too.”

She added how much she loves Christmas trees and would put them up as early as December 5th if she could.

Matching pyjamas

Ms Oviawe said matching pyjamas was another tradition in her house.

“Some years we would have matching pyjamas, I know people hate them, but we would,” she said.

“I hated the matching pyjamas that were fleecy and thick Christmas ones with Father Christmas’ on them - I prefer a plain one.

“I don’t mind putting them on for pictures, it’s just the heat; I’m sweating even now. I’m a very sweaty person, can you imagine a fleece on top of me?

“My mother makes us wear them, we have no say, she’s the head of the household and says, ‘This is what we are doing.’

Young Offenders is expected to return to Irish screens next year.

Ms Oviawe said Christmas has become more important to people since COVID.

“I think, dare I say, COVID kind of proved that you can spend time with your family more and don’t need to worry about the materialistic things in life,” she said.

When asked, the Young Offenders star said she can’t “confirm nor deny” whether a new season of the show will be out next year, but filming is underway and “it’s going to be brilliant”.

Survey results released yesterday show six-in-10 people will attend a religious service on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year.

It found that people aged 55 or over are most likely to attend a service.

More will be revealed on The Hard Shoulder this evening and on The Anton Savage Show tomorrow.

If you would like to have your opinion heard and take part in a Newstalk Amarach poll, visit amarachpanel.com/nt for more information.’