St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, traces its origins to Ireland, where it was traditionally spent with family in church reflecting on Christian doctrines. The Irish brought this tradition to Canada and the United States, where it evolved into wearing various shades of green, preparing corned beef and cabbage delicacies, and attending parades.
St. Patrick’s Day has grown in popularity over the years, and people from all over the world now celebrate the holiday, even if they are not Irish. From indulging in St. Patrick’s Day-themed games, preparing hearty meals, step dancing as the Irish do, to making DIY crafts commemorating quirky Irish traditions, there are multiple fun activities you can engage in with the family to honor the esteemed holiday this March.
St. Paddy’s Day Costume Contest
Green is the thematic color for St. Patrick’s Day, and with such a vibrant color, one can get very creative. This year, you can take things a step further by hosting a friendly costume contest for the entire family. You can work in groups or as individuals. Bring out the leprechaun hats and green leggings and let the festivities begin.
Online SPD Themed Games
Online games have advanced significantly in the last decade and are even more personalized for a more fulfilling user experience. In 2022, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style by launching your computer or mobile device and logging in to your favorite online casino for a few rounds of leprechaun slots. Irish Charms by Pragmatic Play, Leprechaun Song, Finn and the Swirly Spin, Larry the Leprechaun, and many more unique themed St. Patrick’s Day online casino games are available from top online gaming providers.
Family Brunch, The Irish Way
This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Thursday, but you can still spend quality time with your family, beginning with a festive brunch. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to tasty treats and foods appropriate for the occasion. Soda bread is a tasty traditional Irish delicacy with an easy-to-follow recipe. Other festive accompaniments can include a green shamrock shake, mint-flavored milkshakes with tasty whipping cream on top, festive desserts like Irish apple cupcakes, classic Irish stew, and much more!
Learning the Irish Stepdance
Irish stepdance entails quick and precise foot movements while maintaining a stiff upper body and, of course, a big smile. Irish dance is not difficult to learn, even for children. It’s even more enjoyable when done in groups. Learning the fundamentals will bring a special cheer to the whole family.
Visiting an Irish Pub
The Irish are a bubbly folk with fascinating pub culture. It would be unthinkable to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without raising a glass of green beer with friends and family. Green beer is simply regular beer with a hint of food coloring added. Others prefer the traditional Guinness beer, a favorite of the Irish. When capturing the moment, make the Irish toast by raising the glasses high and shouting “Sláinte!” in unison, which translates to “good health” in Irish.
St. Patrick’s Day-themed Scavenger Hunt
Nothing says “fun” like a well-guided family SPD scavenger hunt around the house. You can easily find fun and interactive holiday treasure hunt ideas online to keep the whole family engrossed as they progress from one challenge to the next. Different prizes can be used as treasures, including tasty treats or seasonal gifts. A scavenger hunt is the ultimate challenge for the esteemed holiday.
Exciting St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
This is a fun activity to get the wee ones in the holiday spirit. This category contains a variety of themed crafts, such as decorating the house with clovers, rainbows, and leprechauns. Making holiday cards, shamrock wands, and shamrock pins are also kid-friendly crafts.
Irish Movie Night
St. Patrick’s Day was originally intended to be a day spent with family and loved ones. One way to accomplish this is to gather everyone and cozy up in the living room with green matcha popcorn for a captivating Irish family movie. In preparation for the movie night on March 17th, you can choose from a long list of top Irish films. Here are our top picks:
- In the Name of the Father
- P.S. I love You
- Ryan’s Daughter
- Cavalry
- The Wind That Shakes the Barley
- The Crying Game
- Angela’s Ashes
- The Quiet Man
Virtual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Parades are traditional for St. Patrick’s Day, but you can follow one virtually because not all locations host one. Big cities host some of the best SPD parades, and in 2022, Dublin, Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and London will be among the cities holding grand parades to commemorate the holiday. These can be followed on the internet as you sing along to the catchy tunes usually sung during the eventful parades.
Enjoy All That St Paddy’s Day Has to Offer
Since the holiday became an internationally appreciated event, people celebrate it in their own unique way, but in the same spirit of family and fun. Global communities have created a variety of activities to honor the Irish tradition, the majority of which are uplifting and interactive. Some of the fun activities mentioned above have been updated to reflect current digital trends, broadening your options when selecting a solo or group St. Paddy’s Day activity.