As many Americans are looking to celebrate this March 17, it is important to note that St. Patrick's Day can be an opportune time for everyone—not just those with Irish roots—to partake in events and festivities. This annual holiday has evolved into a tradition celebrated among all cultures, honoring not only St. Patrick but also Irish culture as a whole.
A number of St. Patrick's Day traditions have developed over the years that many Americans observe, some on a smaller scale and others more widely throughout various communities. Here are 10 St. Patrick's Day traditions to try out this March 17 with your friends and family:
1. Drink Guinness at a Pub
Since Ireland exports nearly 10 million hectoliters of Guinness Beer annually, it is only fitting to have a pint on St. Patrick's Day! Head out to your local pub and enjoy a cold one with good company as an added bonus, many pubs also offer half-price drinks on the day.
2. Take a Green Beer Bubble Bath
If you are spending St. Patrick's Day activities at home, pour yourself some green beer and hop in the tub! Adding bubbles to your bathwater not only adds fun but also moisturizes your skin with the creamy lather while simultaneously turning your bathwater green—an added bonus is the fizzing bubbles that bubble up as you pour in your drink.
3. Listen to Celtic Music and Watch Celtic Dances
View and listen to a variety of Irish folk dances and music online, such as those by singer-songwriter Enya, who is known for her songs about Ireland's history and culture. You can also look into Celtic music in general, which tends to have a more upbeat tempo or watch videos of Irish step-dancing performances.
4. Participate in an Irish Pub Crawl
One tradition popular in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day symbols and traditions is the pub crawl, which involves walking around town with friends while stopping at different pubs or bars along the way. Pub crawls not only allow participants to sample multiple drinks in one day, but also offer a time for friends and family to socialize while having fun with one another.
5. Wear Green Clothing
Wearing green clothing on St. Patrick's Day is an easy tradition that can be done all around the world. Whether you want to wear an all-green outfit or just add a green accessory—like a necklace, bracelet, purse, or hat—to your ensemble, be sure to accessorize in green on March 17.
6. Participate in the Chicago River Dyeing
For more than 50 years, the city of Chicago has dyed its river green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and this tradition has since spread to other parts of the world. Each year, communities throughout America and beyond turn their rivers green by adding a dye made from natural sources to the water in order to pay homage to Irish and Irish-American culture.
7. Wear Horn-Shaped Green Clovers
Wearing a four-leaf clover is another popular St. Patrick's Day traditions, but instead of wearing the traditional three-leaf shamrock, wear a four-leafed horn-shaped green clover to represent luck and good fortune. For an added effect, try adding gold details to your outfit or accessories to mimic the look of a four-leaf clover.
8. Watch a Movie Featuring Ireland or Irish Culture
View a film that features, takes place in or is about Ireland to celebrate all things Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Whether you enjoy watching romantic comedies, dramas, musicals, mysteries, thrillers, or any other genre of movie, there is a film out there that will suit your tastes and entertain you to the fullest.
9. Sample Irish Cuisine
There are several mouth-watering dishes you can try as part of your St. Patrick's Day traditional food this year, such as Irish stew, colcannon, bangers, mash, or Irish soda bread. For a drink pairing with your meal, consider drinking the classic Irish combination of Guinness and Harp beer, or mint tea served hot with milk.
10. Look for Leprechauns
Leprechauns—tiny fairy-like creatures that come in a variety of colors from gold to green—are an important part of Ireland's history, legend, and culture. According to Irish folklore, Leprechauns are known for hoarding treasure in pots or jars hidden throughout the land, which explains why many St. Patrick's Day celebrations include a "leprechaun hunt" in which participants search the ground for gold coins that may have been left behind by the creatures.
Conclusion
To sum up, the above are St. Patrick's Day traditions you should know. If you want to discover more information, don't forget to visit CouponUpto to update the latest information.
