Magic of Christmas through the eyes of children

The magic of Christmas is found nowhere more than in the hearts of children.

Christmas for many children is about excitement, magic, fun, loved ones coming home and fabulous family feasts. It’s not just about the expensive presents they get. It’s about being on the “good” list, saying your prayers, pulling a cracker with your granddad, and playing with your cousins...

The Boys

* John Murphy, five-and-a-half, Killahan NS, Co Kerry:

I love Christmas; I like the magic the best — see, Santy is a magic man. He can pull a small bike out of his bag, and when he pulls it out, it’s a big bike that you can ride on. He has all these reindeer and he flies in the sky and that’s magic.

* Fionnán Bennett, 7, Scoil na mBuachaillí, Clonakilty, Co Cork:

We have these talking Santas and they go up on the shelves and sing Christmas songs. I like listening to them at the start of Christmas but then my brother and sister start pressing the buttons too much and I get a bit sick of it.

We have a little crib and I say my prayers to the crib with my mum and my brother and sister.

* Conor Dineen, 10, Scoil na mBuachaillí, Clonakilty:

Christmas means that my Mum comes home — she’s an aid worker and she’s working in Africa.

Mum comes home during the year a good bit and she’s always there for Christmas if she can make it, but sometimes she can’t — so Christmas is very special if she gets home.

* Adam Sexton, 12, Scoil na mBuachaillí, Clonakilty:

I really like watching my mother attempting to put up the Christmas Tree. I usually crawl under it to put up the sparkly balls in the middle.

Christmas dinner is my favourite bit of Christmas. And my granny and grandfather are coming from North Cork this year. I love when they come because they make everything great.

* Matthew Lyons, 4, Scoil na mBuachaillí Clonakilty, Co Cork:

I like putting out the biscuits and milk and the carrots for Santa and Rudolph. They’ve to come a very long way to get to my house. I hope Santa brings me a BMW 5 Series car for Christmas. That’s a dinky.

The Girls

* Holly Meany, 10, Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School, Waterford:

Christmas means Santa coming and all my family sitting down for a big dinner with turkey and ham and lots of Christmas cake and a Christmas pudding that my granny makes.

We set it on fire at the table. That’s really cool.

My granny and granda and my auntie and my cousin come to our house for the dinner and there’s always lots of laughing and we play games and watch TV.

My granny is always interested to see what I got from Santa and then she sits down and plays with me — I’m her pet!

* Abbie Connolly, 11, Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School:

My granny Angela used to love Christmas very much. She’s in heaven now. I miss her a lot. Christmas always reminds me of granny because she was such a joyful person.

I usually spend half of Christmas Day with my Mum and the other half with my Dad so I get to see them both. Santa comes to both the houses which is just brilliant.

* Taylor Reilly, 8, Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School:

My favourite bit is getting up really early — about 7.30am — to see if Santa came. He always comes, but I haven’t met him yet.

* Mia Swift, 8, Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School:

On Christmas morning I go into my sister’s room at around 4am and jump on her bed and then we go into my Mum and Dad’s room and jump on their bed and make them come downstairs with us and look at our presents. My parents say they want to stay in bed but we don’t let them.

* Ciara Conroy, 7, Presentation Primary School, Terenure, Dublin:

Santa Claus is my favourite bit of Christmas, because he brings presents and he’s really kind.

I saw Santa at his farm once. We drove a long way in the car and he told me I was on his good list.

He let me check for my name on the good list and it was there — I was very glad because I’m always very good and I’m always on the good list. That’s why I like Christmas.

* Alice Carroll, 9, Presentation Primary School:

I love Christmas because everyone is happy and no-one is sad. I love putting up the Christmas tree, and we always have an Advent calendar. I love everything about Christmas, it is my favourite time of year — even more than the summer holidays.

We go and visit my aunties and uncles so I get to see my cousins. I really like them — I’m an only child and I love playing with my cousins at Christmas.

* Linda Fitzgerald, 12, Killahan National School, Co Kerry:

This Christmas I’ll get to see my baby cousin Animoana who lives in Vienna. She’s seven months old. I love everything about Christmas Day and the dinner and seeing what I got. Christmas is my second favourite time of the year after the summer holidays.