As St. Patrick’s Day gets closer, you can feel the Irish spirit in the air; that’s why camping on St. Patrick’s Day is so fun.

From Parades to exciting pub get-togethers, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday with rich and tasty foods that date back many years.  

St. Patrick’s Day is all about beer and food and more beer, green or not.

 

The Beginning

St. Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated annually on March 17th, actually commemorates the death date of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. He brought Christianity to Ireland and also drove snakes out of Ireland. I don’t know if either of those is true or just legend.

Although St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious feast honoring St. Patrick, it has become a celebration of Irish culture. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations include drinks and food.

 

 

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The Leprechaun

The leprechaun is a mythical creature associated with luck and mischief. They are described as small, old men dressed in green with pointed ears and a beard.

 

 

 

 

 

The legend is that if you are fortunate enough to catch a leprechaun, they will grant you three wishes in exchange for his freedom.

They are also the keeper of the pot of gold, which is at the end of the rainbow. To find and capture a leprechaun is the extreme luck of the Irish.

 

 

 

 

Parades

The St. Patrick’s Day parade has become a tradition in a lot of cities across America. 

Here are a couple that would be fun to check out while camping on St. Patrick’s Day.

New York City, New York – NYC hosts one of the world’s largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades. The parade marches up Fifth Avenue, passing, of course, the iconic landmarks of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This parade has bands, bagpipers, and Irish Culture,

Chicago, Illinois – Chicago is famous for its unique St. Patrick’s tradition of dying the Chicago River green. The parade in Chicago features great bands, colorful floats, and traditional Irish dancers.

Boston, Massachusetts – The Boston area has one of the largest Irish-American populations. This is the oldest parade in the US. The parade goes through the South Boston area, also known as Southie.

Savannah, Georgia – Savannah has the largest parade in the American South and dates back many, many years. It has floats, bands, and Irish heritage, but the best part is the city’s historic district is transformed into a sea of green during the holiday,

San Francisco, California – This is one of the largest parades on the West Coast. The city’s Irish community comes together to celebrate their heritage.

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget that if you are going to be in any of these areas, check out this Viator link to help book any other activity that you would like to do in your area.

 

Traditions

Here are some of the coolest, noteworthy ones to check out while camping on St. Patrick’s Day.

Wearing Green – This is one of the most well-known traditions for St. Patrick’s Day. Wearing green clothes, shamrock-themed attire, and accessories. It is said that if you do any of those things, it will bring you good luck.

Irish Music and Dance – Irish music sets the tone for festive parties. The most traditional dances are the step dancing and ceilidh dancing.

Attending Mass – In Ireland, attending mass is a traditional way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Many people start the day with a visit to church for a special mass.

Eating Irish Food – Dishes like corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, colcannon, and soda bread are common for this day. These dishes are enjoyed at home or at a local Irish pub.

Toast to St. Patrick – Raising a glass is a customary practice on St. Patrick’s Day. It doesn’t matter if it is a pint of Guinness, a glass of Irish whiskey, or a non-alcoholic drink. The toast is to show appreciation for the patron saint of Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

Places of Celebration

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world.

Here are just some of the places where St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated.

Ireland – Naturally, it’s celebrated extensively throughout the country of Ireland where most of the tradition is displayed.

Canada – Cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver have large Irish communities celebrating with parades, concerts, and other festivities.

Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have parades, pub crawls, and cultural events showcasing dancing and food.

United Kingdom – Cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester, where there are large Irish communities, have events like parades, concerts, and pub crawls.

Argentina – Buenos Aires has one of the largest celebrations in South America, with street parties, live music performances, and parades.

New Zealand – Cities like Auckland and Wellington have great parades, with Irish music, dance, and food being prominently featured.

 

The Main Food

There are plenty of different foods that are served on St. Patrick’s Day, but here are a few that are the most popular.

Corned Beef and Cabbage – This one happens to be Paul’s favorite for the holiday or just any time at all. Corned beef and cabbage is not normally served in Ireland. It’s a brisket that has been cured in a seasoned brine, then boiled or slow-cooked with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Irish Stew – This is a very hearty meal that includes lamb or beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, and many other root vegetables. It is usually slow-cooked until the meat is tender.

Colcannon – A traditional Irish dish that is made with mashed potatoes mixed with either cabbage or kale, butter, cream, and sometimes scallions. It’s a rich, creamy dish perfect for a St Patrick’s Day celebration.

Soda Bread – This is a very quick bread to make. It’s flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk, that’s it. It can seem dense and slightly sweet and is served with butter.

Irish Soda Farls – Irish soda farls are similar to soda bread but cooked on a griddle. They are thick, triangle-shaped pieces of bread that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Most of the time

 

Desserts for St. Patrick’s Day

Shamrock Sugar Cookies – To make these, you bake sugar cookies in the shape of shamrocks and decorate them with green icing and sprinkles. These are fun and easy to make on a camping trip for the whole family.

Rainbow Fruit Skewers – These are great for everyone to help make. Slide colorful fruits onto skewers to create a rainbow. Serve them with some whipped cream or yogurt dip. 

Irish Cream Cheesecake – Whip up a creamy cheesecake and flavor it with Irish cream liqueur. Top it with some chocolate sauce or a sprinkle of cocoa powder. This cheesecake is a decadent dessert that is perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Pot of Gold Cake Pops – These little treats are so cute you’ll want to make them all year round. Dip cake pops into melted green chocolate and then decorate them to look like pots of gold.

Lucky Charms Treats – When it comes to a kid treat, this is the one. Just realize that you are talking about a lot of sugar, so be sparing. They are so easy to make. Just substitute Lucky Charms cereal for the Rice Krispies. The marshmallows in the cereal will help hold them all together and add a little color pop.

 

Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic Beers of St. Patrick’s Day

A hearty beer is traditionally the best way to celebrate any Irish festivities.

Guinness Stout – This is the quintessential choice for St. Patrick’s Day. This beer is known for its rich, creamy texture and roasted malt flavor.

Smithwick’s Irish Ale – This red ale is from Ireland. It has a smooth, malty, sweet flavor. Irish ale is a favorite for people who are looking for a slightly lighter beer than a stout.

Harp Lager – A pilsner-style ale that is light and hoppy but not overly bitter. Great for a fun and festive afternoon.

Guinness Zero – When you want the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day without the alcohol, then this is your beer. It’s everything the flavor of a Guinness has except the alcohol.

Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn Golden Ale – This company specializes in craft non-alcoholic beers. It’s light, fruity, and easy to drink.

Brew Dog Nanny State – This is a low-alcoholic beer (0.5% ABV) with full-bodied flavor and hoppy notes. It’s brewed with a variety of malts and hops to really give you an amazing taste.

Bitburger Drive – This German non-alcoholic beer is known for its crisp and clean taste—a great choice for a light beer choice.

 

Check out the Delish.com site for more great Irish beers to go camping with on St. Patrick’s Day.

 

Nibbler Tip: If you are camping on St. Patrick’s Day, look at the town you are in and see what kind of festivities they will have.

 

 

 

Finally

St. Patrick’s Day is a day full of warm Irish stew, a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, and a sweet shamrock-shaped dessert.  

A day that is filled with wonderful parades and exciting Irish traditions.

Make camping on St. Patrick’s Day full of memories of good Irish fun to hold you throughout the year.

Until next time, Sláinte!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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