It’s time for Saint Patrick’s Day—one of those I categorize as “minor” holidays (no disrespect to all of my Irish relatives).
I love these occasions that call for fun but don’t offer a ton of pressure to deliver a magical experience the likes of which have never been seen before. (Slow your roll, Easter Bunny.)
If you’re looking for some simple touches to make Saint Patrick’s Day special in your home, here are some ideas:
Morning Surprise
A staple of really every special occasion in our house is the morning surprise.
If your kids are anything like mine, they'll have set an elaborate trap the night before Saint Patrick’s Day in the hopes of catching a leprechaun. In the morning, we check the trap and usually are left with curious evidence that someone had been there, but we’ve so far been outsmarted.
Leprechauns tend to leave behind chocolate gold coins and a bit of a mess around the trap. ;)
The kids enjoy theorizing what may have occurred over night and delight in our tradition of very simple gifts of “green” things. For example, green notebooks, green matchbox cars, green hair ties, etc.
Cue the Ditties
The Saint Patrick’s Day playlist is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. Add classic Irish folk artists like The Irish Rovers, The Dubliners, and The High Kings will get your hands clapping and your feet tapping for sure.
Go Green
When it comes to food, tableware, and clothing, go green or go home. Of course silly accessories like shamrock-shaped glasses, green sequined bow ties, and (my favorite) the Kermit pin that says “It’s not easy being green” earn you extra Saint Paddy’s Day bonus points.
Know Why
Don’t miss the opportunity to educate your children about the meaning of Saint Patrick’s Day. Who was Saint Patrick? What does the shamrock symbolize? Why do we celebrate with parades?
History.com offers this 3-minute run-down about how Saint Patrick’s Day came to be.
Eat Corned Beef
Dinner on Saint Patrick’s Day is traditionally corned beef and cabbage. Some children may not be willing to partake in that in which case you can add a little green food coloring to the pasta and voila! Soda bread makes a nice traditional touch for dessert.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
