Annette holding pint of guinness

Wedged between Valentine’s Day and Easter comes a fun and quirky holiday celebrated in the brisk March weather: St. Patrick’s Day. It’s the day when we all dress up in green and have a beer. If you’d like to go all in with your celebrations, however, and learn something more about this holiday and Irish culture, there are plenty of other St. Patrick’s Day activities you can get swept up in, either outside or from the comfort of your home.

Just choose the ones most applicable to you and you’ll easily have an awesome St. Patrick’s Day holiday this March! 



1. Bake soda bread

Similar breads can be found in many other countries but the Irish love this traditional bread. Baking soda is an integral part of the bread’s name. It’s made with pastry or cake flour, mixed with buttermilk, yogurt, or stout. 

Here are some recipes you might like:

Bake Soda Bread


2. Celebrate Mass

While in many other countries St. Patrick’s Day is known as a day to dress in green and get tipsy on Guinness, in Ireland it’s first and foremost a religious holiday, celebrated to commemorate Christianity’s arrival to Ireland. In addition to the fun and drunken celebrations, the important part of the day is the attendance at a mass. 


3. Drink Green Beer

While I have already mentioned that this is a significant holiday for religious reasons it also has a major role in beer drinking. And since the day’s theme color is green, why not consume some green beer? Make your own green beer by adding two drops to a light beer. You can add up to six if you want a darker color, but be aware that the more food coloring there’s in your beer, the higher the chances you’ll end your night with a green tongue. Unless that’s the point, of course!

These are some recipes that you can try to find the one that suits you best.

Drink Green Beer


4. Family Brunch

Even if you want to have some crazy plans later in the afternoon and evening, try starting the day slow and chill, filling you and your family’s tummies with all things yummy. Include the soda bread on your brunch menu. You might also consider other recipes. this listThis includes both traditional and modern Irish dishes that are perfect for this day. 


5. Enjoy a Shamrock shake

This is a seasonal treat offered by McDonald’s in some selected countries, namely the US and Canada, and of course Ireland. It’s a mint-flavored milkshake with delicious whipping Cream on top. If you have a sweet tooth, this is one excellent way to contribute to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 

If you can’t make it to Mickey D’s then try making this treat at home with this recipe: Shamrock Shake Recipe by Susan Olayinka and Mashed Staff.

Enjoy a Shamrock Shake


6. Give to a Green Cause

Keeping up with the theme of green, one of the most meaningful things to do on St. Patrick’s Day is to donate to a green cause. That is, give something to a cause that’s trying to save our environment. HereThere are seven organizations you could consider as potential recipients of your donation. 


7. Have a Costume Contest

While donning on a costume for Saint Patrick’s Day isn’t as big of a thing as it is for Halloween, it can add a little bit more spice to an already awesome holiday. You can wear anything green, but you’ll need to be more extravagant if you want to dress up as a Leprechaun. If you’re the host for the holiday this year, encourage your guests to dress up and compete against each other for the best costume of the night. 

Have a Costume Contest


8. Enjoy a pint of Guinness

One of the quintessential St. Patrick’s Day activities is to have a pint or more of Guinness, the famous Irish beer. A lot of bars around the world should have it in their selection, and even if you celebrate at home, you shouldn’t run into much trouble buying a pint of it from your local store. Guinness also comes as a non-alcoholic version for those of you who don’t want to drink alcohol. 


9. Get an Irish Coffee

This coffee drink was created by an Irish bartender back in the 1940s. It contains coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream. It’s a warm drink that is best enjoyed after dark. If you’d like to try Irish coffee but do not want it to include alcohol, you can boil the whiskey until alcohol evaporates from it. 

It’s easy to order one at most bars, but you can also make a delicious one at home using this recipe: Classic Irish Coffee by Sonja Overhiser

Have an Irish Coffee


10. Learn a bit of Gaelic

English held the position of first language among the Irish during the 19Th century, many native speakers of Gaelic – more commonly referred to as Irish language – still exist today. If you’d like to quickly learn a few words in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, you can take advantage of online resources such as Duolingo


11. Learn how to dance the Irish Step Dance

The Irish step dance has its roots in traditional Irish dance. It is a popular form of Irish performance dance. The popular theatre show made it perhaps world-famous. Riverdance, and is characterized by moving one’s feet in a fast and precise manner, all the while keeping the upper body rather stiff. It can be performed solo or with a group. Tap dance is more focused on rigid and straight movements than this. 


12. Learn the History Behind St. Patrick’s Day

Another one among the incredibly meaningful things to do on St. Patrick’s Day is to learn where the holiday originated from. I’ve already quickly touched upon it, but it’ll do you good to educate yourself on the holiday you’re about to go celebrate. You’ll find a whole new meaning to your celebrations and a better understanding of history overall through it! 


13. Listen to Irish Music

Irish music is not only known for its captivating performance dance but also its rich tradition. Traditional Irish music is also known as Celtic music. It features beautiful fiddles and harps as well as whistles and a traditional Irish drum called the bodhran. Listen to traditional Irish music radio stations right here.

For more modern Irish music, check out The Cranberries, Snow Patrol, Sinead O’Connor, U2, and The Corrs. 


14. Traditional Irish Meals

Didn’t get enough Irish food over brunch or inviting people over for celebrations and St. Patrick’s Day activities? Continue your journey through Irish cuisine and make a traditional Irish dish to share with others. Besides the link I’ve shared above, here are some dishes that are specifically traditionally Irish, and therefore the best thing to have for a feast on Saint Patrick’s Day. Corned beef with cabbage is of course a must, but maybe you’d like to try some other dishes, too. 

Make a Traditional Irish Meal


15. Make Some St. Patrick’s Day Crafts

If you’re celebrating the day with little ones around, you can include them in on the fun by making some themed crafts. You can decorate your house together with rainbows, leprechauns and clovers. other great crafts ideas. Even if you’re only about to have adults around for fun times, you can still make and decorate your home with some crafts fit for the day to go all in with celebrating the day. 


16. Make St. Patrick’s Day Cards

While you’ve gotten yourself into the groove with the crafts, how about adding some cards commemorating the day into the mix? You’ve already got all the tools in hand thanks to the crafting materials, but you might be able to get some readymade ones from stores, too. HereHere are some suggestions for text to add to your card 

Make St. Patrick's Day Cards


17. Plant Shamrocks

The Irish consider the shamrock a symbol for their faith. It’s said that Saint Patrick saw shamrocks as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity. It can be seen in many different forms, including postcards and airplanes. You can grow a small potted shamrock indoors, but it’s also suitable for an outdoor garden. 

What are the best places to buy Shamrocks for planting? They can be purchased online. Amazon.


18. Recite the Irish Blessing

The people of Ireland are deeply rooted in Christianity and have created prayers and blessings for many occasions. Even if you’re not that religious – or Irish, for that matter – these blessings can be meaningful for the recipient to hear, as well as bring you a good feeling to recite. Here are some Irish blessings you may want to recite for your loved ones on Saint Patrick’s Day. 


19. Search for Four-leaf Clovers

The four-leaf clover, which is a rare variant of a three leaf clover, has been associated with good fortune since the dawning of time in Ireland. These legends date back to centuries. It was a Celtic charm back then, and people still celebrate the discovery of a 4-leaf clover. The belief that it brings good luck to all of us continues to be strong. So if you want to feel lucky this St. Patrick’s Day, head on out and find yourself a four-leaf clover! 

Search for Four-leaf Clovers


20. Do a St. Patrick’s Day Themed Run

In addition to other celebrations, St. Patrick’s Day also makes for the perfect occasion to go for a run as the weather is cool, rather than cold or hot. And don’t worry, most of the themed runs are not that strenuous, and after the finish line comes an epic post-run St. Patrick’s Day party! Put on your costume and go find a run. 


21. Enjoy some Irish Whiskey

If you’ve already bought some Irish whiskey to make that delicious Irish coffee, you may also wish to sample the whiskey itself. Jameson and other Irish whiskeys are described as light and fruity. They are great for people who don’t drink liqueurs or whiskey. 

If you’re not sure of what whiskies to drink, see Town & Country’s 12 of the Best Irish Whiskies to Try Now

Taste Some Irish Whiskey


22. Test Your Luck Playing a St. Paddy’s Game

Well, after finding your four-leaf clover, and even if you haven’t found one, it’s perhaps time to put your luck to a test and play a game or more in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Especially if you’re hosting a party, you might include some of these games as part of your St. Patrick’s Day activities. Your guests will have a ton of fun and you’ll all have such an unforgettable night! 


23. Watch a Virtual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Besides attending mass and drinking beer, one of the biggest ways St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated is by hosting a parade. They are hosted in several different cities around the world, so maybe you’ll get lucky and have one hosted locally. But if not, fret not, it’s still possible and a lot of fun to also watch one virtually, especially in this time and age when we’re discouraged against going into crowded places.


24. Check out an Irish Movie

Looking to spend a chill St. Patrick’s Day at home but still want to include some particularly Irish in it in addition to a pint of Guinness? It’s time to put on an Irish movie! Belfast, which was nominated for the Oscar Best Picture, is one of many amazing films from Ireland. Take a look at this listFind your top movie choices for the night.


25. Wear Green

By far the simplest way to participate in the day’s celebration is to wear green, be that a green top, dress, skirt, pants, or something else. Even if you’re not leaving your home, you may want to have your feast or watch that movie with some green clothes on, just to add that extra flavor of fun into it. Wearing green will also go a long way with attending a party or a themed run, even if you don’t want to go with a full costume on.

Wear Green


26. Corned Beef, Cabbage and Other Meals

Perhaps the most traditional of all dishes Irish, if you want to celebrate an Irish holiday right, you’ve got to include this in your meal menu! It’s This is a simple recipe to prepareThis will make a hearty and delicious meal, especially if there is soda bread.

Here are some amazing recipes:

Eat Corned Beef and Cabbage


27. Wear a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” Shirt

Your green clothing item contribution to the day just could be this shirt – especially if you’re actually Irish! It should be quite easy to hunt one down through Google (there’s a cute one on Amazon!)In anticipation of the holiday, you may find that some shops near you stock up on these shirts. Whether you’re Irish or not, this could be a fun and quirky shirt to wear in celebration of the holiday. 

. . .

Although the holiday often gets dubbed as one for the beer loving crowd internationally, there are surprisingly many St. Patrick’s Day activities, or ones that can be fit as one, even if you want to celebrate the day low key or together with your family. You can celebrate the day in many ways, regardless of whether you’re from Ireland or Ireland. How will you be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year?

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