While you may or may not want to “wear green” on St. Patrick’s Day, you can still bring the best of luck to you and yours with any type of celebration to welcome and open the door to spring, which is part of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. It’s so nice to go from the soft, faded colors of winter to the vibrant and inviting shades of green and spring.
One of the St. Patrick’s Day dinner staples is Irish soda bread. There are so many different recipes available on the net that you can pick and choose to your heart’s delight. This bread is so named because “baking soda” is the leavening agent and the “X” cut into the top of the bread is a surefire way to ward off evil spirits that may be lurking around. Watching the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from New York City is a relaxing way to get family and friends into “green” mode. Drink cool, refreshing soda or ice cream, or if you prefer a hot drink, like mint green tea, Irish coffee for the grown-ups, or even mint hot chocolate with whipped cream that has some crushed “spearmint” candies in it. it just adds up to the day. The “cockles of your heart” will be hot and ready for thoughts of corned beef and cabbage, and all the fixings.
The first St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in 1737. If you like authenticity, going to “Dublin” is easier than you think. You don’t have to cross an ocean, just go cross country. There is Dublin, CA., Dublin, OH., Dublin, NH, Dublin, GA. and even Dublin, VA.
Hallmark claims to sell more than 12 million St. Patrick’s Day cards and greetings sent out each year. Opening an envelope with a wish, such as “May your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you” is a great day.
I grew up watching the Chicago River turn green every St. Patrick’s Day; okay, a nicer shade of green than the norm for that river. Using tons of vegetable dye, the old Chicago River is turned into a “green” flowing river for a few days, which is a truly beautiful sight from the windows of some of the Chicago Loop’s tall buildings. It makes you want to turn to the person next to you and offer, “May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.” kind of nice!!!
Kissing the Blarney Stone is a legend in Cork, Ireland. A great way to recreate this tradition is to kiss the cook making homemade blarney stones for dessert. Using your favorite cupcake recipe, simply follow the instructions and bake. He cools the cupcakes and then frosts with any snow-white frosting and covers the entire top with green-tinted coconut. Just add 1 tbsp. water to green food coloring until the green is the shade that works best for you. Put the coconut in a jar, add the colored water, put an airtight lid on top, and start rocking that jar with some really hot Irish jigs. When the coconut is evenly stained, pat dry with paper towels, then add to the top of your own Blarney Stones.
Brightly colored paper cut shamrocks and gold coins are a great decorating tip for tables. You can even place your guests’ initials on the bottom of the coins, and before setting the table with treats, give everyone a minute to try to collect the most coins with their initials on them. They can then purchase their choice of desserts, which are sitting on a side table waiting to be snatched up for the right price.
Corned beef and cabbage are a mainstay, but with a little “green” imagination, side dishes can be put together that carry out the theme of the day. At the end of any meal, pass around a green bowler hat you can make out of construction paper and fill it with well wishes and blessings that are sure to please. Your family and friends will enjoy opening your special notes with phrases like “May God bring good health to the enemies of his enemies” or “May he live a hundred years with one more year to repent.” So here’s to St. Patrick’s Day and Slainte’ (pronounced Slan-cha and means “Cheers”).
Wishing everyone the opportunity to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in an inexpensive and fun way. Remember: if you ever wonder what God thinks of money, just look who he gives it to.”
Enjoy.
©March, 2010
Arleen M Kaptur