While there are many people who will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day outside this year, there are also those who simply want to stay in their homes. Want to know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home and still have fun? Keep reading on.
How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Home
The years 2020 and 2021 have made it impossible to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day outside, thanks in large part to COVID-19 and mandates that restricted gatherings. As the world starts to return to a new normal, though, many cities are resuming St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, with visitors by the millions poised to catch a glimpse of the event. Still, as the surge of Omicron cases in the United States only recently dipped, and with experts warning that the pandemic has yet to cease, a lot of people still feel uncomfortable celebrating the special day in public spaces.
Fortunately, like any other occasion, it is possible to stay at home and still enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. Here is how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home.
1. Decorate and Wear Green
One of the simplest ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home is to decorate according to the theme. Hang green string lights and pin cutouts of shamrocks on the walls. You can even feel the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by just dressing for the occasion.
Green is the preferred color during this special day, so green shirts, pants, and dresses are a good start. You can even take it a step further by dressing up in a St. Patrick’s Day-themed costume, such as leprechauns, bar maidens, and shamrocks. Don’t forget to take pictures to remember the good times!
2. Watch a St. Patrick’s Day Parade Online
Aside from wearing green, most people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by watching a parade. While nothing compares to the feeling of watching a parade in person, you can get close by watching it virtually. Some big cities live stream their parade for everyone to see online. Schedule a time for this and then sit down with your family or friends to appreciate the Irish culture on display. Make the experience extra fun and memorable by preparing snacks to accompany your viewing.
3. Have a Backyard Party
Who says you can’t have a party from the comfort of your own home? As the cold weather wanes, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to plan a backyard party and get in the mood for spring. You can decorate your backyard with green string lights, set up a little area to look like a pub, and put on some classic Celtic music. Play fun games and dance the night away!
4. Have an Irish Feast
One of the best ways to truly appreciate a particular culture is to partake in that culture’s cuisine. In the case of St. Patrick’s Day, that’s Irish cuisine. Similar to Christmas dinner, consider preparing an Irish feast for your family or friends. Classic Irish dishes include corned beef, cabbages, potatoes, meaty stew, and soda bread. For drinks, you can have some green beer or make your own shamrock shakes. Nothing brings a group of people closer together than sharing a meal with each other.
5. Bake Some Treats With Family or Friends
While cupcakes and cookies are not things you typically associate with St. Patrick’s Day, you can still incorporate them into your celebration. Bake some sweet treats with your friends and family, then decorate them with green and gold together. For instance, you can bake a green sponge cake (using food dye, of course) and then decorate it with green frosting. You can even splurge and top it with some edible gold flakes, though gold chocolate coins or Lucky Charms cereal will do just as well.
Kids, in particular, will have a fun time with this activity. Decorating cupcakes and cookies is a great way for them to express their creativity. Plus, you can teach them how to bake and how to safely use kitchen tools. Just remember never to leave them unattended!
6. Organize a Game Night
St. Patrick’s Day is the ideal time to test out the luck of the Irish by holding a game night. Game night can include tons of different games and activities. Make sure to tailor them to the players, too. For instance, a drinking game may work for adults, but not for kids.
A fun game to play on this special day is a Pot of Gold Coin Toss. To play this game, each player stands a set distance from a decorative pot and tries to toss as many gold coins as they can into the pot. You can also keep things simple with a word search or a St. Patrick’s Day bingo game.
If you’re feeling ambitious, why not organize a trivia night for your friends? Questions can be related to St. Patrick’s Day, and whoever gives an incorrect answer has to suffer a penalty. You can also have them split into teams, and the team that gets the most right answers wins a prize.
7. Watch an Irish Movie
If you want a look into Irish history and culture while still being entertained, consider watching an Irish movie or two. Make some popcorn, blend some shamrock shakes, turn down the lights, and get cozy under a blanket.
If you have the time, turn it into a movie marathon. There are tons of Irish movies or movies set in Ireland that you can enjoy. Some examples include “Brooklyn,” “The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” “Calvary,” “Leap Year,” “Ondine,” and “Once.” For animated movies, try “The Secret of the Kells,” “Song of the Sea,” and “Wolfwalkers,” though these movies do contain some adult themes.
8. Learn an Irish Dance
A good way to appreciate Irish music while simultaneously jumping around your room is to learn the Irish dance. Gather your friends and family together and watch a video on how to dance the Irish jig or stepdance. Dancing is a surefire way to get the blood pumping and gain a deeper appreciation for Irish culture.
A Safe and Fun St. Patrick’s Day for All
There is no shame in staying home this St. Patrick’s Day. While parades and parties are taking place outside, you can have your own version of fun indoors. If you want to know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at home, make sure to include these fun activities in your plans.
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