Raise the Bar This St Patrick’s Day!

St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and it’s a great reason to get a little more green in your life! Adding a little (or a lot!) of green to your outfit is a fun way to join in the celebrations. Whether you’re of Irish ancestry, love celebrating multi-culturalism or just love that it’s a festivity with beer, we look at different ways to raise the bar this St Patrick’s Day.

When is St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the 17th of March every year. In 2024 St Patrick’s Day lands on a Sunday, meaning there should be plenty of options for celebrating.

What is St Patrick’s Day?

The date commemorates the death of St Patrick who is the patron saint of Ireland. It has been marked as a feast day in Ireland since around the 10th Century CE. The early celebrations were mostly a religious festival centred around church services and feasts. It became an official holiday in Ireland in the early 1900s but has become a more secular event and has spread around the world. Several US cities really embrace the day. Boston started hosting a St Patrick’s Day Parade back in 1737. Since 1962 Chicago has been turning their river green in honour of St Pat’s Day.

Who was Saint Patrick?

Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, however, he was not born in Ireland. It is believed he was born in Britain in the 5th Century CE he was taken to Ireland as a slave when he was 16 years old. After 6 years in captivity, he escaped back to Britain but then returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary.  He reportedly died on the 17th March 461 having established monasteries, schools and churches in the country.

Why is Green the Colour of St Patrick’s Day?

Blue was actually the more common colour associated with St Patrick’s Day. There’s even a shade of blue referred to as “St Patrick’s Blue”. Over the years, as the celebration became less of a religious festival and more of a celebration of Ireland, the colour associated with St Patrick’s Day changed to green. Ireland is often referred to as “The Emerald Isle” and the shamrock is an official symbol of the country.

St Patrick’s Day in Australia

In the 2021 national census around 9.5% of Australians listed that they had some Irish ancestry, making it a great reason to connect to your Irish roots (and drink a few beers!). Australia’s biggest St Patrick’s Day event is usually the parade in Sydney, where the sails of the Opera House are often coloured green as part of the fun. There are large events held in other cities such as Melbourne and Perth, or just get down to your local Irish Pub!

Why Wear Green on St Patrick’s Day?

Folklore says that the colour green makes you invisible to leprechauns. These little fairytale creatures are full of mischief and are said to pinch you if they see you. In both celebration of all things Irish, and to avoid injury from a mischievous leprechaun, wearing green has become a common St Paddy’s Day tradition.

What Other Ways Can You Celebrate St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Irish Pubs around the world, with an emphasis on drinking Guinness – a traditional Irish stout. Other St Patrick’s Day traditions include Irish dancing, eating corned beef with cabbage, colouring food and drinks green, and wearing a shamrock on your lapel.

Fun Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in St Patrick’s Day

With St Patrick’s Day this year falling on a weekend, it’s a great time to get in some crafts of baking to get your children (and your tastebuds!) involved in the fun. Here are some of the activities you may like to try:

• Colouring activities (with an emphasis on green!)
• Devising stories on how to get the pot of gold away from a leprechaun
• Green cupcakes with rainbow decorations (like this awesome idea from Six Sisters Stuff!)

Image credit: https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/st-patricks-day-cupcakes/

Get Your Green Outfits