This March 17th, lots of Knoxville-area families are beginning spring break – if you’re staying in town, it’s the perfect time to go all out celebrating St. Patrick’s day with your family! From food to games and stories, Irish culture has a lot to offer.
Here are our 4 favorite family St. Patrick’s Day activities you can do together:
1. Try an Irish Recipe
Whether you go with a traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage or want to be a little more adventurous, there are lots of authentic Irish dishes you can make with things you already have in your refrigerator!
- Soda Bread – with a distinctive traditional cross cut in to the top, this easy bread is festive without too much extra effort, and you can add raisins and caraway seeds to make it even more authentic.
- Irish Stew – Like so many Irish dishes, you can use whatever you have around, but the traditional combination of beef, carrots, and potatoes makes a rich, thick stew that is sure to please everyone.
- Colcannon – Amp up simple mashed potatoes by adding cabbage and onions, leeks, or chives. You can even fold in some bacon for extra flavor.
- Shepherd’s Pie – This classic Irish comfort food lets you use whatever you have on hand to make a rich, delicious one-dish meal. It’s so easy, you can let the kids help out.
- Boxty – These savory potato pancakes can be made with a variety fillings (including shrimp, mushrooms, or beef), usually in a cream-based sauce. You can even serve them simply with sour cream and chives!
- Irish Sausage Rolls – If you have some mild breakfast sausage and crescent rolls (or other puff pastry), you can make this Irish favorite, which is popular as a party appetizer or for a quick bite on the go.
- Curry Chips – If you want to make something really unique, try “curry chips,” steak fries with a mild curry-flavored gravy, which can be found in shops all over Ireland and the UK.
2. Play a Traditional Irish Game
Whether you choose a traditional Irish game or one that incorporates fun St. Patrick’s day themes, it’s a great day to have a family game night, especially if your kids are on spring break! Make some green popcorn to snack on while you play, and enjoy.
3. Tell an Irish Story
Ireland has an especially rich history of folk tales and fairy stories, and sharing a few before dinner or bedtime is a great way to introduce your kids to Irish culture. In the late 1800s, the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats collected folk tales and fairy stories, many of which you can read here.
You can also check your local library for books of folk tales, if they haven’t already been snapped up!
4. Plan Fun Irish-themed Crafts
As always, Pinterest is a great resource for crafts and projects for kids of all ages – click here to scroll through hundreds of ideas, many of which simply craft materials you already have on hand!
What are your favorite ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Share them in the comments!
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