Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Ultimate Irish Way
St. Patrick’s Day is a day to get your Irish on, whether you are Irish or not. If shiny cellophane hats, paper shamrocks and “Kiss Me I’m Irish” buttons from the party store don’t inspire you, here are a few suggestions to make you feel Irish…
1. Sample Irish Food: Whip up some corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie or Irish stew. Marvel over the fact that women once prepared these flavorful dishes over wood or coal fires in kitchens without running water. Find some great recipes at http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/st-patricks-day.html
2. Wear a Bit o’ Green: Add a touch of green to your outfit to summon the luck o’ the Irish any day. Tie a green scarf on your neck or paint forest green nail lacquer on your nails.
3. Warm up with a Wee Dram: Smoother than their Scottish cousins, Irish whiskey is often distilled three times. ‘Whiskey’ comes from Gaelic and means “Water of Life.” Hey, water is good for you, right? Try Jameson or Tullamore Dew and feel yourself becoming Irish.
4. Shamrock: Carry a shamrock or your favorite lucky penny with you. Sometimes that special good luck charm holds enough magic to make you believe you’re lucky and can change the way you look at opportunities. It’s said that St. Patrick passed out 3-leaved shamrocks as a visual aid to teach people about the Holy Trinity.
5. Visit the Emerald Isle: If you can’t drop everything to jet off to Ireland for a week, you can still enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside and places to stay…virtually. Virtual Visit Tours will transport you over emerald hills to ancient castles and inside quaint pubs from the comfort of your office chair.
6. Dance a Jig: Nothing will get the blood flowing during the mid-afternoon slump at work than a little Irish step dancing. You might not resemble Michael Flatley, but you can mimic a few moves for a little cardio boost. Warning: remove those sharp heels first.
7. Watch “Gangs of New York” with Leonardo DiCaprio. How can you help but feel a little Irish while watching Hollywood’s depiction of Irish-Americans in New York circa 1863? The star-studded cast makes it worth the while with Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly and Cameron Diaz also in the cast.
8. Read a poem or two by William Butler Yeats: Yeat’s muse was a political activist named Maud Gonne, he had an interest in the supernatural and he wrote some great poems that netted him the Nobel Prize for Literature. Start with “Brown Penny,” “Leda and the Swan,” or “Never Give all the Heart.”
9. Drink Guinness: One pint of Guinness and you will be well on your way to feeling Irish. Several pints might lead to raucous rounds of “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.” Guinness, the signature brew of Ireland and referred to as the “milkshake of beers” for its creamy white head and rich flavor originates from St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin.
10. Learn an Irish Blessing: St. Patrick’s Day, the saint’s feast day and a religious remembrance, was traditionally not a day of celebration in Ireland. Irish-Americans are primarily responsible for its elevation with parades and parties to celebrate their heritage. In the spirit of the real St. Patrick, here’s a traditional Irish blessing to help you get your Irish on.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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