St Patricks Day is approaching and you may be looking for things to do (besides engaging in consuming alcoholic libations!). When thinking of St Patricks Day party ideas it may be helpful to ask yourself, “What is St Patricks day?”

Every year March 17th marks the occasion when the Irish (and Irish at heart) observe this holiday. What started as a day of religious feast in honor of the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture. St Patricks day is synonymous with parades, dancing, special foods, and a lot of green!

When planning for the holiday be sure to check out when your local parade is being held. This is one of the best St Patricks day freebies you can find! Parades are a great event for the family to attend and there are usually some cool things specifically geared toward children.

If you’re planning to have people over for the holiday you will need food and decorations. You can get into the holiday spirit without spending a lot of money. Here are some easy ways to nail that holiday theme without breaking the bank.

Ask yourself, “Where are the thrift shops near me?” This is a great way to find cheap clothing and accessories that may not be St Patricks Day items on their own but can be made to suit the holiday. Look for things like green clothing, black clogs, black top hats, and red wigs. Again, this is a one day event; these items don’t need to be top of the line products. You just want to capture the spirit. A lot of items can be transformed with the addition of a properly placed piece of fabric (like cutting a gold or yellow belt buckle out of fabric or paper and gluing it to a black top hat). There are also many great sources online for you to download free DIY decorations like cards, coloring pages, and decorations. These are great options to avoid spending a lot on decorations while keeping the kids involved.

If you are looking for a quick and easy holiday dish to put out check out this Irish Soda Bread recipe:

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 Tblspn white sugar

1 tspn baking soda

1 Tblspn baking powder

1/2 tspn salt

a.2 cup margarine, softened

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup buttermilk

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

2) Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and margarine in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round mound and place on baking sheet. In a separate small bowl combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk. Brush loaf with this mixture. Use a knife to cut an “X” into the top of the loaf.

3) Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean (about 45-50 minutes, but be sure to check after 30 minutes). Continue to brush any left over butter mixture over the loaf as it bakes if you wish.