It’s time to dig out some green clothes before getting pinched because St. Paddy’s is once again upon us. Originating in Ireland as a once reverent religious holiday celebrating the feast day of St. Patrick has become a beloved day of celebration where we gather with family and friends to enjoy a fun-filled evening of appetizing food, great beer, and a bit of Irish luck.
If you are planning on throwing a party, there’s no need to scout out rainbows for a pot o’ gold.
Magically Delicious
As tempting as it is to lay out a banquet of green food, you may want to avoid over-selling the evening’s color scheme by dying the whole meal a typically unappetizing color. Instead, opt for some traditional Irish cuisine like soda bread, boxty, Irish stew, smoked salmon, or oysters.
For the most part, you are safe picking any kind of seafood and potato dishes because those are the most popular food items in the country. If you insist on having at least some green food, go for some veggie appetizers. If you want to stay traditional as well, cabbage is used in many Irish dishes.
Whiskey in the Jar
It’s not a St. Patrick’s day party without raising a glass to the dear old Emerald Isle. The popular drink of choice on the seventeen o’ March is a good dark stout. Guinness and Murphy’s are both great choices, but if you’re looking for a lighter option that is still Irish-made, try Smithwick’s red ale or O’Hara’s pale ale.
For those who prefer something a little stronger, you can’t go wrong with quality Irish whiskey like Jameson. As for the nonalcoholic options, tea is one of the most popular drinks in Ireland as they drink more tea per capita than most countries in the world (after Turkey), but if you want something a little simpler, just go with good ol’ ginger ale.
Irish Jig
Although you shouldn’t feel restricted to playing solely Irish folk songs, it would add a bit of spirited fun to the party if you included a few merry ballads. Groups like the Dubliners and the Chieftains specialize in classic green-blooded ditties. After a few drinks, everyone will be linking arms and belting out these Celtic melodies.
You could also mix in some contemporary Irish songs like the popular “Take Me to Church” by Hozier or the upbeat bop “Love Tonight” by Irish pop singer Soule. Exploring Ireland’s best-kept musical secrets will not only give you a killer playlist but will allow you to find bands you never would have known otherwise.
Luck of the Irish
Test your luck with an innocent game of poker. Although not traditionally Irish, it could be a fun way to engage your adult guests while the kiddos play pin the shamrock on the leprechaun. You can still keep the table on theme by using chocolate gold coins to gamble with and a deck of St. Patrick’s specific playing cards.
If you are a stickler for theme, you could always incorporate the national card game of Ireland: “Twenty-five.” Everyone gets dealt five cards, you play five rounds, each round plays one card, and winning each round gets you five points. The first player to get 25 points wins the game – hence the name.
Top o’ the Trivia
How much about this holiday do you really know? Challenge yourself and your guests to an Irish-themed trivia game. The questions can relate to the country, the folklore, or the patron saint himself. What are the colors of the Irish flag? What did St. Patrick use to symbolize the Holy Trinity? Where was the first St. Paddy’s Day parade? These are all relevant questions you can include in this engaging party game.
Including a buzzer or bell to identify the first person to guess will keep the activity from turning into a mess. You can set up teams or have a free for all as you present the questions to your guests. Everyone gets to learn something new about this beloved holiday.
Say Green
How else are you going to immortalize this legendary party than by setting up a St. Paddy’s Day photo booth? You can experiment with backdrops of the Irish countryside, rainbows, or just a balloon arch with different shades of green. The printable props can be found online and would include green leprechaun top hats, red beards, shamrocks, and gold coins, all displayed in a big black pot.
Grab any camera and put it on a tripod so you can join in with your friends and family as you pose in your St. Patrick’s attire. Give in to your silly side and capture these memories to be enjoyed for years to come.
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