St. Patrick’s Day has arrived! We understand that you have places to go and people to see, so we’re going to keep this guide short and sweet. These are some rules which we recommend you follow to assist in this day-long celebration of Irish culture. But first, a brief history lesson:
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, though he was born in Roman Britain. He lived in the 5th century and is credited by many as the founder of Christianity in Ireland—a land of Druids and Pagans at the time. The shamrock is closely related to him, as he used its three sides to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. March 17th is his supposed day of death, and it is a day to celebrate Ireland and Irish culture.
St. Patrick’s feast day was typically a quiet, religious celebration in Ireland. Beginning in the mid-1700s, this celebration was transported to the United States, as the number of Irish immigrants had been growing rapidly there. Parades were a way for Irish-Americans to show civic pride in their new homes. These St. Patrick’s Day celebrations grew and soon, people with no Irish heritage began to participate as well.
HOW TO CELEBRATE
There are some dos and don’ts to help your day be successful and safe. After New Year’s Eve, it is the second busiest day in the bar world.
DON’T
– Call it “St. Patty’s Day”. Patty is short for Patricia. Say either “St. Patrick’s Day” or “St. Paddy’s Day” please.
– Forget to eat. Better to eat before you get the day going and snack throughout the day. You needn’t eat corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, or shepherd’s pie—but if you do, well done!
– Forget to drink—water that is. Beer doesn’t count. And speaking of beer…
– Drink green beer! If it’s down to green beer or nothing, go for nothing.
DO
– Spend the day with friends and family. It is a time for celebration and you should do that with the folks near and dear to you.
– Listen to Irish music. Nothing like a great Irish session to get your toes tapping, but you needn’t limit it to traditional Irish music. Listen to artists like Thin Lizzy, The Pogues, The Cranberries, Stiff Little Fingers, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, My Bloody Valentine, Van Morrison, and of course, U2. And that’s just for starters.
– Try new whiskeys. Nothing wrong with tried and true Jameson. But, if you’ve got the opportunity, try a new dram in honor of the day. We have a few recommendations for you:
TOP IRISH WHISKEY UNDER $50
NEW BOOZE NEWS: ST. PATRICK’S DAY EDITION
EXPLORING IRISH SINGLE MALT FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
– Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Maybe drink a beer in between drams.
– Most importantly, plan a safe ride home. Walk, take public transport, have a designated driver or hire a rideshare like Lyft or Uber.
Okay, enough with the rules. It’s time for music, friends and good craic.
A toast from us to you:
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
Sláinte!
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