Historically speaking, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of St. Patrick’s divinity and the hope and optimism he brought to 15th-century Ireland. But the spirit of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration appeals to tens of millions of non-Irish and non-Catholic Americans, and March 17 is a day many look forward to each year. If you’re one of them but you haven’t yet settled on plans for this Friday, here are seven ideas to consider.
Attend a parade
St. Patrick’s Day parades are held in most large urban areas and many smaller communities as well. Attending one is a tradition for millions of American households. Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which draws a million spectators per year, is the second largest in the country. Austin, Denver, and Seattle host highly-attended celebrations as well.
Visit a green landmark
Landmarks throughout the world are transformed to appear green on St. Patrick’s Day. The London Eye, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Paris’s Sacre Coeur, and Fenway Park in Boston are all illuminated green. A section of the Chicago River is died green for The Windy City’s festivities. See what iconic structures or bodies of water near you are going green, and visit one.
Prepare a St. Patrick’s Day feast
There are a few different approaches you can take if you decide to do this. You could prepare Irish food, green food, or green Irish food. If you go the first route, think roasted cabbage, corned beef, Guinness stew, Irish scones, cheesy beer bread, and chocolate stout pudding pie. If you go the second route, get creative. Just be careful with the food coloring.
Explore Irish music
Traditional Irish folk music would be a natural route to take on this festive day, but don’t subject yourself to it unless you love it. There’s plenty of contemporary pop, rock, and electronic music coming out of Ireland. Celebrate St. Partick’s Day by introducing yourself to Hare Squead, Le Galaxie, Pleasure Beach, or Saint Sister. Or you could listen to your favorite U2, Enya, Van Morrison, The Cranberries, or Sinead O’Connor hits.
Get crafty
If you like St. Patrick’s Day enough to decorate your apartment for the occasion, celebrate by embroidering a felt shamrock pillow or crafting potted paper clovers. If you’ve got kids at home, they might enjoy making paper leprechaun hats or cutting shamrocks from construction paper.
Throw a small party
Party planners, St. Patrick’s Day presents a great opportunity. Choosing a color scheme and decorating are easier than they are for most other occasions, making it easy to throw a festive party. Since relatively few people plan small St. Patrick’s Day gatherings, you can also expect a good turnout. Let the previous three suggestions for celebrating inspire your party planning process, and don’t forget the St. Patrick’s Day party games.
Plan a trip to Ireland
If you’ve long yearned to visit the Emerald Isle, why not use this occasion to start planning your trip? Even if you’re planning for a St. Patrick’s Day 2018 trip or some other distant visit, planning your trip could be a fun way to celebrate.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst