Are you looking for a St. Patrick's Day activity or two to do with the family this year? With the world slowly but surely opening back up, many of us are finally ready to get back out in the world. If this sounds like your family, here are some St. Patrick's Day activity ideas you can do with the kids to celebrate the big day on March 17. But first, what is St. Patrick's Day about, really?
What is St. Patrick's Day about?
St. Patrick's Day food to try this year
New England Boiled Dinner was always on the menu in my own family on St. Patrick’s Day. My grandmother, who was of Italian-Irish ancestry, always made it with the requisite potatoes, cabbage, and carrots, of course, but she'd use ham instead of corned beef or fresh brisket. Each are equally delicious, so if you haven't tried this St. Patrick's Day food staple already, this Instant Pot Corned Beef recipe comes together quickly.
And don't forget the Irish soda bread. "I grew up eating this Irish soda bread that has been passed down from my gram," Michelle Price told Mom.com. "We can't have a St. Patrick's Day without it any more than we can skip the corned beef and cabbage. But the memories of this bread go beyond just that. This is our comfort food. Whenever someone had a bad day, my mom would make this for us to enjoy and stick a second loaf in the freezer to save for later."
Colcannon is another St. Patrick's Day food, traditionally made with mashed potatoes and kale or cabbage. Also, for those watching their carbs — or on a keto diet to shape up for summer — colcannon is a great substitute for the potatoes or soda bread when it's prepared with mashed cauliflower, like this variation from KetoKitchen.
Fun family activity ideas to help celebrate St. Paddy's Day
We have all likely heard a St. Patrick's Day song or two in our time, but what about family-friendly songs you listen to with the kids? There are some great kid-friendly songs out there, so while you're crafting and cooking, play some Irish music in the background. Ellen over at In Our Spare Time has a great list of Irish songs for kids and family activity ideas to make for a great celebration.
Family game nights are fun, especially when centered around a holiday. Try a friendly game of St. Patrick's Day Bingo with these free printables from Lindsay at Artsy-Fartsy Mama.
If you need a little fresh air and vitamin D, St. Patrick's Day parades take place in cities and towns across the U.S. New York City hosts the largest and oldest St. Paddy's Day parade in the world, which, if you're not local, you can catch streaming live on NBC New York at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022.
Despite lifted COVID-19 mandates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended the mask mandate for public transportation through April 18, so if you're heading out to watch a St. Patrick's Day parade or attend a festival, don't forget your mask! And finally, whether you're celebrating at home or out in the community, be sure you're wearing green on St. Patrick's Day.
