9 Ways to Celebrate St Patricks Day

Get festive by donning One Tree Planted’s classic Reforestation tee — but this time it’s greener than ever! When you purchase your limited edition St. Patrick's Day reforestation tee, you are also helping to support reforestation in Ireland, where we are planting 200,000 trees in 32 counties across Ireland to restore habitat for biodiversity and engage local communities in tree planting. The wearing of the green on St. Patrick's Day is not all fun and games, and in fact has roots in historic events dating back to the 1700s. 

Although Corned-Beef and Cabbage is more Irish-American than Irish (who traditionally favor salt pork), it's a delicious tradition in many a household. By sourcing your corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots (and might we suggest, parsley sauce 👌), locally, you can cook up a delicious and sustainable St Patrick's Day feast. Curious about the history of Corned Beef and Cabbage vs. Salt Pork? In the 1800s and early 1900s, Irish immigrants in the United States found that corned beef was cheaper than pork — the opposite of how it was back home.

With famous Irish beers like Guiness, Killians, and Murphy's (and the always delicious Bailey's and Jameson) dominating the shelves ahead of St. Patrick's Day, it's easy to drink green this time of year. And while we would never suggest missing out on these delicious traditional brews, it's also worth trying out other Irish-style beers that are brewed closer to home. Look for a nice dark, bitter, and creamy Irish Stout or a sweet and malty Irish Red and you'll be kicking up your heels in no time!

If you want to bring your celebrations to another level, try your hand at crafting a limerick. Funny, punny, and frequently a bit off-color, limericks are verses that are comprised of three long and two short lines. The trick? Lines 1, 2, and 5 have 7-10 syllables and rhyme with each other. Lines 3 and 4 have 5-7 syllables and also rhyme with each other. Although opinions vary, many agree that the term limerick was derived from the Irish town of the same name and the format was popularized by the poet Edward Lear. 

Dance is closely woven into Irish culture and history. Irish Step Dance has its roots in traditional Celtic and Druid dances and is characterized by a stiffly held upper body and nimble, quick foot work. Dancing traditionally takes place around religious and other special occasions — one such being "feis" or Celtic community celebrations. Put on your dancing feet and try your hand at a traditional Irish jig. Prefer to stick to the sidelines? Catch a performance by a local Irish Step Dance school (or watch this classicRiverdanceperformance).

Music is at the heart of Ireland. With songs ranging from delicate, sad ballads about those that have passed to humerus scores that remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, to rousing songs about historic events, traditional Irish music is folk music at its heart. With haunting lyrics and beautiful solos, there's nothing quite like the sound of a harp or  whistle to get you into the St. Patrick's Day spirit. Whether you choose to take in a parade, hit a pub crawl, or attend a concert, it's worth getting to know some of the traditional Irish songs so that you can sing — and clap! — along.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread is a simple, tasty accompaniment to your Corned Beef and Cabbage. Made with just a few ingredients that you probably have on hand, it comes together in about 40 minutes. It should, of course, be generously slathered with a good Irish butter.

While St. Patrick's Day parades range in size and scale, they are a great way to celebrate in style. Local Irish Dance schools, Irish Clubs, and other associations are guaranteed to turn out in full force, along with traditional foods and beverages served up by vendors and establishments along the route. 

When you support our reforestation project in Ireland, you are helping to plant 200,000 trees in 32 counties across Ireland to restore habitat for biodiversity and engage local communities in tree planting. The trees will be planted through a range of community, school and farm-led projects and will have a lasting impact for the people and wildlife that call the Emerald Isle home.