An Irish American’s Guide to St. Patrick’s Day
Graphic by Neshama Ryman
While I’m proud every day to be the great-granddaughter of Irish immigrants, there’s one day a year when I feel an extra sense of pride in my heritage: St. Patrick’s Day. Since I was a child, “St. Paddy’s” has been one of my favorite holidays. I always looked forward to donning green from head to toe and coming home from school to eat my mom’s corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread.
My hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, loves the holiday too; its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade attracts crowds of more than 10,000 people and is the city’s biggest single-day event. Growing up, I loved watching Irish step dancers and bagpipe players march through the streets of Cleveland at the parade. Though I haven’t spent the holiday at home in a few years, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to celebrate in my four years at college. Below, I’ve compiled my recommendations for every aspect of the holiday, so you too can celebrate St. Patrick and Ireland.
Location
As Harvard students, the best place to celebrate might seem obvious: Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. With up to one million spectators, it’s the second-largest parade in the country behind New York City—needless to say, it’s a fantastic time. With nearly one in five Bostonians claiming Irish heritage, the city’s pride in the island nation makes the parade a big deal here.
When I participated in the parade my freshman year, the crowd’s energy was electric. College students and families alike crowded the streets of Boston, sporting orange and green, in a lively, congenial mood. Everyone was friends with everyone that day, and perfect strangers let us join them on their first-floor apartment roof for a better view of the parade. It’s a day meant to celebrate the city’s heritage and how far Irish immigrants have come in Boston since their mass influx during the Potato Famine of the 1840s and 1850s.
This year, the parade starts at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 15, so if you haven’t dashed off for spring break, it’s worth the T-trip.
If staying in Boston next weekend isn’t your vibe and you’re still trying to figure out spring break plans, then you’re just in luck. Dublin, Ireland, is a 6-hour direct Aer Lingus flight away and the actual best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Last year, my friends and I squished into an Airbnb by Trinity College Dublin and had the time of our lives. Every study-abroad student I knew flocked to the city like sheep guided by a young St. Patrick (back when he was a shepherd). The bars were standing room only, with the celebration spilling onto streets across the city.
Outfit
Most days of the year, I avoid being overly prescriptive with fashion rules. But on St. Patrick’s Day, the number one rule is that you must wear green, or else you risk being pinched. Once you have that covered, there are many other ways to display your appreciation for Irish culture. Originally worn by fishermen on Ireland’s Aran Islands, a classic Aran sweater (or any chunky knit) is the perfect attire if you’re anywhere cold. An Irish flat cap will also make you fit in well in any climate.
Music
On St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time to turn down the house music at your function and switch to the more traditional Irish folk music. If you’re celebrating here in Cambridge, it’s definitely bad luck not to play “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys. The classic “Rattlin’ Bog” is another favorite for the holiday, as is any song featuring a fiddle.
Food
There are two ways to go when it comes to food on St. Patrick’s Day. The traditionalists stick with classic Irish fare. Potatoes in any form are a staple in my diet on the 17th, and I’d also recommend trying corned beef hash, bangers and mash, cabbage, or soda bread. If HUDS doesn’t deliver on the day of, you can also go the new age route, which involves a lot more sugar and green food dye. A McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is sure to put you in the holiday spirit, as are Lucky Charms Rice Krispies treats.
Drinks
As a holiday with an emphasis on beer, I’d be remiss not to offer recommendations for drinks on St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re over 21 and want to partake in tradition, a classic Guinness pint is a must; bonus points if you can split the G. Given that most parades start in the morning, another favorite is an Irish Coffee. Made with coffee, sugar, Irish whiskey (preferably Jameson), and whipped cream, the drink is sure to wake you right up. If whiskey in coffee isn’t your cup of tea, you can opt for Baileys Irish Cream, which was invented in Ireland in 1974. While not exactly traditional, green Jello shots are another fun way to celebrate.
If you’re under 21, you can always mix lemonade and blue Powerade for an on-theme green drink or go for a Guinness 0.0, so you can still enjoy a pint.
Beyond the fun food and festivities, to me, St. Patrick’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays because I get to embrace my Irish heritage and family history. When I visited Dublin for the first time last spring, I got chills walking down the streets because I felt such a deep sense of kinship with the city where my ancestors had once lived. St. Patrick’s Day is a way for me to feel that same way, no matter where I am. Whether you’re in Boston, Dublin, or anywhere else in the world, I hope you, too, can find time to have fun in the name of St. Patrick.
May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Frances Connors ’26 (maryfrancesconnors@college.harvard.edu)can do a mean Irish jig.