Growing up in a large Irish-American family with more cousins, aunts, and uncles than you can count makes for some interesting and fun family gatherings. They may be loud and a little crazy, but spending time with your huge Irish family is always full of lots of love and laughter, and you wouldn't have it any other way.

1. Every member of your extended family is very loud and outspoken.

2. You are immediately offered food as soon as you walk in the door of any relative's house.

3. When asked if you would like a cup of tea, the answer is always yes.

And you wouldn't dare drink anything except Barry's.

4. You firmly believe that Cadbury chocolate is God's gift to mankind.

5. Your standard dinner is meat and potatoes with some kind of vegetable.

You'd think it would get old, but it somehow doesn't.

6. Seriously, you have some variation of potatoes pretty much every day with every meal.

You've learned to love potatoes in every form: mashed, boiled, baked, you name it.

7. There is never a family gathering without whiskey.

8. You have too many cousins to count.

You have a ton of first cousins, but add in second cousins and you've lost track.

9. There are so many members of your extended family that you begin to assume that you're related to every Irish person you meet.

10. You've heard countless stories about your grandparents' upbringings in Ireland.

11. You don't notice your family members' accents until a non-Irish person points it out.

12. You've tried Irish step dancing at least once in your life.

13. You have at least one picture of you and your siblings in Irish sweaters (and maybe even kilts).

14. Family reunions are always massive.

And you usually have to rent more than one house for vacation.

15. There are at least 10 people in your family named Patrick, Sean, Jack, or Martin.

16. If you're not from the Northeast or Chicago, the majority of your extended family is.

17. You are not allowed to swear, but your parents and grandparents do it all the time.

18. Most celebrations and gatherings (including funerals) usually end up at a pub.

19. You know that it's Paddy's, not "Patty's."

Seriously, get it right already, people.

20. You were always pulled out of school for St. Patrick's Day because it's clearly the most important day of the year.

While everyone can pretend to be Irish on St. Paddy's Day, you get to be Irish all the time, and that's pretty freaking awesome.