How to make the most of Saint Patrick’s at home
We would all love to celebrate Irish culture and heritage by going to a festival, but well, that’s just not possible right now. Although we have high hopes for 2021, this Saint Patrick’s Day we want you to celebrate safely from home. And hey, if you see a leprechaun… tell him (or her) we want COVID to be over! Maybe this is the lucky day we’ve all been waiting for. 😉 And we know what we’ll be doing if the wish comes true- immediately packing our bags, of course! But for now, let’s work with what we have.
10. Get cookin’, good lookin’!
Saint Patrick’s, like most holidays, is all about food. Some traditional St. Paddy’s dishes include shepherds pie or an Irish stout & honey beef roast. For dessert, whip up a shamrock cutout pound cake or the famous (and delicious) chocolate Guinness cake. 2021 hasn’t been easy, so you deserve this.
9. 2021 is all about going green… including on Saint Patrick’s Day!
It’s time for all of us to step up our green game. Dig your closet for your best green outfit… we all know that somewhere in that pile of unworn clothes there’s something for the occasion! If you can’t find anything, DIY it up by coloring your clothes green with some dye (we’re all about sustainability over here). In addition to wearing green, get creative with some Saint Patrick’s Day crafts!
8. Support local when it comes to drinking
2021 has been a tough year for our favorite small businesses, so when it comes to your Saint Patrick’s drinks, support local! Order your drinks as takeout, and we are 100% sure your business will be appreciated.
7. Learn the Irish step dance
Quarantine has given us a lot of time to learn new skills, so why not try learning the Irish step dance? TikTok’s and YouTube are great tools to get those steps on point. Perhaps you can even turn it into a competition, where the person who masters the dance first, wins! Most importantly, have fun while doing it.
6. Get your St. Paddy’s Day playlist ready!
After you’ve gotten your groove on with the step dance, turn up those Irish tunes! It’s 2021, so all the Saint Patrick’s Day playlists you could possibly hope for are just waiting to be played on Spotify. Here are some song recommendations from us for a traditional Irish vibe:
- Danny Boy – The Irish Tenors
- An Irish Pub Song – The Rumjacks
- Molly Malone – The Dubliners
- The Irish Rover – The Dubliners & The Pogues
- Song For Ireland – Luke Kelly
5. Watch a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed movie
If the couch hasn’t become a familiar place to you by now, it’s about time. Grab your (locally sourced) drinks, sit back and relax. Don’t know what to watch? We got you covered (or more like Netflix does!):
- The Foreigner
- Handsome Devil
- Derry Girls (a series)
- The Irishman
- Dare to be Wild
- Brain on Fire
4. Organize a scavenger hunt in true Saint Patrick’s Day fashion
Get your leprechaun boots on and organize a scavenger hunt! This can be a fun activity to get the kids involved as well. Hide gold chocolate coins (or real coins ;)) around the yard and begin scavenging! Spring is on its way, so you might get lucky with the weather… but it can just as well be done inside!
3. Host a virtual whisky tasting
Gather all your whisky-lovin’ (adult) friends together for a virtual whisky tasting, since we’re all pros at Zoom by now. Or perhaps you’re into beer? That works just as well! Include a line-up of different whisky (or beer) brands, and take the time to try to identify the subtle tastes which make each drink unique. While you’re at it, showcase your Saint Patrick’s Day outfits! Who wore it best?
2. Read up on the history of Saint Patrick’s
Wait… why are we even celebrating? 😀 If you’re not familiar with the origins of St. Paddy’s, now is the time to familiarize yourself with some facts about this fun celebration! Of course, we’re here to help a friend out. Here’s a quick recap about the Irish day of festivities:
- The day is a celebration of the arrival of Christianity in Ireland
- It is celebrated on March 17th, the death date of Saint Patrick who was the first patron saint of Ireland
- Chicago dyes their river green for a few hours on St. Paddy’s Day, a tradition since the year 1962
- Guinness goes down as the most popular drink on St. Paddy’s
- Legend says that each of the 4 leaves on a 4-leaf clover has its own meaning: faith, hope, love, and luck
- St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach about the holy trinity, and the shamrock is now the national flower of Ireland
- It’s Irish tradition to pinch the person not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day
- You have a 1 in 10,000 chance of finding a 4-leaf clover
Platforms like Kahoot even have fun St. Paddy’s-themed quizzes that you can challenge yourself and your loved ones with!
Perhaps you’re still looking for someone who shares your whisky/beer passion with you… find like-minded TravelMates on JoinMyTrip!
1. Stream 2021 Saint Patrick’s Day concerts and parades
Last but not least, since we can’t do it live, stream all the available concerts or parades to get into the true St. Paddy’s spirit! Hey, it’s the best option we have, so let’s make the most of it. Did you know that the shortest Saint Patrick’s Day parade is held in Dripsey, Country Cork? The route is 25 yards (about 22.9 meters) from one pub to another! We can safely say that no parade, even held in your living room, is too short for this celebration!
We hope that this guide inspired you to start preparing for your Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations at home! Right when you leave your home, we have some pretty exciting trip plans for you though… or get started with JoinMyTrip to become a trip leader yourself! Your TravelMates are waiting 😉
