St. Patrick’s Day: Family Style

One of my husband’s favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, is upon us. This is the day he fully embraces his wee little bit of Irish roots, drinks a Guinness and starts spouting Gaelic greetings and blessings that I don’t understand. And although St. Patrick’s Day is usually associated with green beer and drunken shenanigans, it’s still possible to celebrate with some good old family fun.

I’ve included some of the things that have become a part of our family tradition over the past few years. Dad always makes an effort to add some Irish flair to the day and make it a fun, enjoyable experience for the whole family.

Green Meals

Dad loves to break out the food coloring and serve up a nice green breakfast. Green eggs, green pancakes (sometimes in the shape of shamrocks), even green orange juice. This has been a big hit for my daughter and she always get a kick out of it. Now that my son is older, I’m sure he will too. And the day always ends with a delicious homemade Shamrock Shake.

Irish-Themed Dishes

We always try to have an Irish meal for dinner. This year will be Irish Beef Stew.

Green Clothes

We love to wear our green for St. Patrick’s Day and dress up as a family. I try to get necklaces, headbands and whatever else I can find so the kids really feel like they’re wearing something “special” on that day.

Fun activities

We usually try to find a parade or other local activities going on (especially if it falls on the weekend). Last year, we took a day trip to the San Antonio River Walk. The water was dyed green, Irish music was playing, and the crowds were dressed in their St. Patrick’s Day best. It was a nice, festive day for us all.

Making St. Patrick’s Day a family-friendly experience doesn’t take a lot of time or effort. Hiding some gold chocolate coins, making shamrocks out of construction paper or filling the house with the sounds of Celtic music can easily make for a fun-filled day.