St. Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday celebrated on March 17th, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday is a commemoration of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as a celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
There are many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, whether you’re Irish or simply looking for an excuse to have a little fun.
Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Here are the different ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day:
Host a Traditional Irish Meal
One of the best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is by hosting a traditional Irish meal. This could include dishes such as Irish stew, colcannon, boxty, or soda bread. You could even make an Irish dessert such as apple tart or Guinness cake.
Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Many cities around the world have St. Patrick’s Day parades, which are a great way to get into the spirit of the holiday. The parades typically feature marching bands, dancers, and floats, as well as plenty of green clothing and Irish flags.
Wear Green and Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Party
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday all about green! As per the experts at Smiffy’s, “Wearing green clothes, costumes, hats, and accessories is a must on this day.”
Even better, if you throw a party and invite friends and family over to celebrate together, you can decorate the party with green-themed decorations, balloons and streamers. You could also use St Patrick Day costumes from Smiffy’s for an added touch of fun.
Learn About Irish Culture and History
St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to learn about Irish culture and history. You can look up traditional Irish folktales, music, and dance and read about the history of Ireland, particularly the life of Saint Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland.
Decorate Your Home with Irish-Themed Decor
Adding some Irish-themed decorations to your home is a fun and festive way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. You could hang green streamers, put up a shamrock wreath, or even make your own decorations out of green construction paper.
Watch Irish Films or Performances
Another way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is by watching Irish films or performances. Whether it’s an Irish dance performance or movie, they can give you an understanding of Irish culture and traditions.
Have a Traditional Irish Breakfast
Start the day off right by having a traditional Irish breakfast, also known as “an Ulster fry.” This typically includes items such as bacon, sausage, eggs, black pudding, and soda bread.
Take a trip to Ireland
If you have the opportunity, consider taking a trip to Ireland to fully immerse yourself in the culture and history of the country. Visit historical sites such as the Rock of Cashel or the Blarney Stone, and explore the picturesque countryside.
Host a St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of Irish-themed items and send teams of people out to find them all. This could include items such as a shamrock, a leprechaun hat, or a bag of gold chocolate coins.
Go to an Irish music concert or Festival
Many cities host Irish music festivals and concerts on or around St. Patrick’s Day, featuring both traditional and contemporary Irish music performances by local and national artists.
Do Irish Dance
Whether it’s Riverdance, Ceilidh, or step dance, learning a traditional Irish dance is a fun way to celebrate the holiday and get some exercise. Many Irish dance schools offer classes or workshops around St. Patrick’s Day.
Volunteer
If you want to give back to the community on St. Patrick’s Day, consider volunteering at a local charity or organization that supports the Irish community.
Make a homemade craft
Create a homemade craft like a shamrock wreath, a pot of gold, or an Irish blessing sign to decorate your home for the holiday.
Plant Shamrock
Planting shamrocks, the traditional Irish symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, in your garden or window box is a fun and easy way to celebrate the holiday.
Conclusion
There are countless ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, whether you’re Irish or not. It’s a day to remember the heritage, culture and traditions of Ireland and to have a little bit of fun.
Host a traditional Irish meal, attend a parade, wear green, visit an Irish pub, learn about Irish culture and history, decorate your home with Irish-themed decor, and watch Irish films or performances, all these things that make St. Patrick’s Day a truly special holiday.
