Tayto Christmas Boxes Are Back and It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without Them
There are certain things that signal Christmas has genuinely arrived in Ireland. The Toy Show. The Late Late Toy Show song stuck in your head for weeks. That first proper cold snap where you actually need more than a cardigan. And of course, the return of the Tayto Christmas Box.
If you grew up in this country, chances are you've got memories tied to that red festive box. Maybe it was tucked under the tree as a stocking filler. Maybe it appeared at every family gathering throughout December, sitting proudly on the kitchen counter while cousins descended into chaos around it. Or maybe you were the one who bought three boxes "just in case" and found yourself elbow-deep in cheese and onion by St. Stephen's Day.
Well, they're back. And honestly, it wouldn't be Christmas without them.
The Cheese & Onion Crispmas Box is perfect for festive snacking.
The Gift That Never Gets Old
Tayto's Christmas Boxes have been a staple in Irish homes for decades now. And while plenty of festive traditions have come and gone (remember when we all pretended to like marzipan?), the Tayto box endures. There's something lovely about that. It's nostalgic without being overly sentimental. It's practical without being boring. It's just… right.
This year's box features Mr Tayto himself dressed up in full Santa gear, complete with his signature bowler hat because even at Christmas, some things are sacred. The 18-pack is ideal for sharing, which is code for "you'll eat six bags yourself while wrapping presents at 11pm and feel zero guilt about it."
And let's be honest, when you're juggling school nativity plays, last-minute present panic, and trying to remember which child needs what costume for which day, having a reliable snack option that everyone actually likes? That's not just convenient. That's survival.
The Tayto Sandwich Tradition
This year, Tayto is championing something that's been quietly happening in Irish homes for years: the Tayto sandwich for Santa. Forget the cookies and milk. We're talking two slices of good bread, a generous layer of butter, and a proper handful of cheese and onion crisps. Some people add a bit of red sauce. Some people think that's a crime. Either way, it's become a bit of an Irish institution.
The Tayto sandwich has even made waves internationally recently, popping up on red carpets and sparking debates online about whether it's genius or madness. (It's genius, obviously.) Tayto is now officially encouraging families to leave one out for Santa on Christmas Eve, celebrating this uniquely Irish tradition that's all about great taste, generosity, and those shared moments that make the season special.
Imagine trying to explain this to someone from literally anywhere else. "So you make a sandwich… out of crisps?" Yes. Yes we do. And it's perfect.
Sharing the Nostalgia
Whether you're gifting a Tayto Christmas Box to someone who's moved away and is desperately homesick for a taste of Ireland, stashing one under the tree for your crisp-obsessed teenager, or just making sure you've got enough to get through the endless parade of visitors over the holidays, it does what good Christmas traditions should do. It brings people together.
There's something about opening that red box, hearing the collective rustle of packets, and watching everyone instinctively reach for their favourite flavour (even though we all know cheese and onion is the correct answer). It's one of those small, silly things that ends up mattering more than you'd think.
And when you're in the thick of it all, when the kids are wired on selection boxes and you're on your third load of laundry before lunchtime and someone's asking what's for dinner even though you've just cleared away breakfast… having something as reliable and joyful as a Tayto crisp? That's worth celebrating.
So here's to a very merry Crispmas. The Tayto Christmas Boxes are available now in stores across Ireland. Stock up, share them out, and maybe leave a sandwich for Santa while you're at it. He's had a long year too.
