St. Patrick’s Day is upon us. This is a day of wearing green shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, good food, and yummy desserts.
I’ve been a fan of Ireland for years, and I love St. Patrick’s Day. My husband and I even had an Irish-themed wedding, and my wedding set includes a Claddagh ring, my favorite Irish symbol.
Do you know how you will spend St. Patrick’s Day this year? Here are some ideas to help you have the most magical day ever.
Dye milk- Before your kids get up in the morning, take some green food coloring and dye their milk green. We used to do this when I worked at daycare on St. Patrick’s Day, and the kids loved it.
Take a virtual trip to Ireland- Go on YouTube and look up videos about Ireland or watch a documentary about Ireland. This is a fun way to learn about this beautiful country’s history, customs, and traditions.
Make green slime-Go online and look up a recipe for green slime. Kids will love playing with the gooey stuff.
Make homemade Play Doh-Look up recipes to make Play-Doh. Think of colors associated with St. Patrick’s Day, like green, gold, and rainbow.
Go to a St. Patrick’s Day parade-Go to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in your town or the next town over. This is a great way to experience a fun Irish atmosphere.
Bake St. Patrick's Day themed goodies-There are all kinds of yummy St. Patrick’s Day goodies that you can make, such as Shamrock cut-out Rice Krispies treats, Bailey’s Irish Cream cheesecake, Lucky Charms Cereal cookies, and mint brownies.
Make St. Patrick’s Day crafts- If you and your kids love crafts, look up some fun things to make for the holiday. You can find various craft ideas online that incorporate leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, etc. Make sure you plan and have all the supplies you need.
Bake Irish soda bread—Irish soda bread is a traditional Irish food that goes well with many Irish dishes. This bread relies on baking soda to rise, not yeast, which is excellent because baking soda is a common household item. It requires buttermilk, which you can buy from the store or make on your own with milk and white vinegar. I’ve seen recipes with and without raisins in them, so you can choose which kind you would like to make.
Eat corned beef and cabbage—This is the quintessential Irish meal on St. Patrick’s Day. Cooking methods for this dish vary. I’ve seen a stovetop method, an oven-baked variation, and a slow cooker method. You can add different flavors, like mustard and brown sugar, maple glazed, and mustard crusted. How you want to cook this dish is up to you, but you will have a delicious meal either way.
Go for dinner at an Irish-themed restaurant - If you have an Irish pub in your town or a town not far away, go there for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. There is sure to be a great atmosphere, food, and conversation.
Irish manicure—Treat yourself to an Irish manicure. Have your nail technician paint your nails in Irish colors or even paint shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, or Claddagh symbols on them. A Claddagh symbol is hands holding a heart with a crown on top. It stands for friendship, love, and loyalty.
Irish dance party-Research some classic and contemporary Irish bands and singers and make a playlist on your favorite platform. Don’t forget to do your research for appropriate content. You could add instrumental Irish music as well. Invite friends and family over for an Irish dance party. Look up instructions for traditional Irish dances so you can learn together.
Watch Irish-themed movie- Gather your older kids to watch some Irish-themed movies. Some movie suggestions include the Song of the Sea (Rated PG). This movie is about a boy who discovers his mute sister is a selkie who frees fairies in the spirit world. What’s a selkie? In Irish mythology, a selkie is a half-human and half-seal. Another option is The Secret of Roan Inish (1994, Rated PG) which was filmed in Donegal and is full of Irish storytelling. The Secret of Kells (G) is based on the origin of the Book of Kells, a gospel book in Latin that contains the four Gospels in the New Testament. Darby O’Gill and the Little People (Rated G) is another movie that is full of all things Irish: accents, leprechauns, Irish jigs, and a very young Sean Connery. The Luck of the Irish (Rated G) is a Disney movie about a high school boy who learns some things about his family heritage and then turns into a leprechaun. This can be a serious problem because he is on the basketball team.
Attend church- Some churches have services on this day.
Enjoy a shamrock shake- Head over to your local McDonald’s and indulge in a cool, green Shamrock Shake.
Read Irish literature- Go to the library or your favorite bookstore and pick some Irish literature. One of my favorite Irish writers and poets is W. B. Yeats. I love his poem, Brown Penny. Other classic Irish authors are Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels), Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest), and Bram Stoker (Dracula). Contemporary Irish authors include Alan Murrin, Cathy Sweeney, Catriona Lally, and Colin Walsh.
Make green smoothies/milkshakes- Have some fun making green smoothies. There are all kinds of green fruits and vegetables you can use. If you’re not sure what goes together, look up a recipe and try it. You could even look up a recipe for homemade Shamrock Shakes and see how they compare to the original.
Plant a shamrock garden- Gather mini pots, soil, and shamrock seeds and plant a shamrock garden with your kids or grandkids. While working, you can listen to an audiobook or a video on YouTube about shamrocks. Kids will love learning about this classic symbol of Ireland.
Take an Irish cooking class- Do you have any cooking schools in your area? If so, look and see if they offer classes on how to cook traditional Irish food. This is a great way to learn about the history of the food, cooking techniques, and how to make a beautiful presentation. No cooking schools near you? No worries. You can look up videos on YouTube that will teach you how to cook Irish food in your home.
Wear green-Don’t forget to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, or you’ll get pinched. At least, that’s what the legend says. Instead of wearing one shade, mix it up a bit and wear both light and dark shades. Don’t forget to pick up some Irish-themed accessories like socks, a necklace, earrings, or a hat. You could even dye your hair green.
Have a green food potluck- Invite friends over. There are all kinds of green foods, and some you can turn green: guacamole and chips, broccoli and dip or broccoli casserole, steamed Brussels sprouts, green beans or peas, spinach or kale salad, green jello salad, pistachio salad, or green-decorated sugar cookies from the store.
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday filled with mythology, fun, food, family, and friends. Start planning to have a magical day that everyone will enjoy.
Photo Credit Leighton Smith