9 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

While St. Patrick’s day is not a Federally recognized holiday in the U.S., don’t let that stop you from observing this fun and festive holiday.

One of the best things about St. Patrick’s Day is that traditions can be adapted to fit any lifestyle or preference, making it incredibly easy to celebrate.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

9 Ways to Show Your Irish Spirit on St. Patrick’s Day

Show Your Colors – Wear green all day long – not only because it’s a long observed tradition, but you may just get pinched if you don’t.
Make a traditional Irish meal – From savory dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and Irish Stew to sweet treats like shortbread and apple cake – Irish foods are as tasty as they hearty.
Drink green beer – Take any lighter colored beer and drop some green food coloring in it – it’s that simple. Not a fan of beer? Any lighter colored beverage will do.
Attend a local St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Chicago and Boston have some of the best around!
Visit an Irish pub for a little pub grub and whiskey – Here are 50 of America’s finest.
Listen to Irish music – Try, U2, the Cranberries, Enya or simply search for an Irish-focused playlist on Pandora, Apple Music or your favorite music-streaming platform.
Bake or buy Irish soda bread – I’m not the biggest fan of soda bread, however, given its popularity and accessibility around this time of year, it’s hard to pass up.
Throw an Irish-themed Party – Create a menu of all-green items, hang St. Patrick’s Day decor around your home and encourage guests to wear green.
Watch a movie or show set in Ireland – I personally love Leap Year and Derry Girls – both are comedies set in Ireland – great for a few laughs (especially if you attended Catholic school!)