St. Patrick’s Day has just passed us by, and while many of us may be recovering from a high level of beer consumption (and perhaps seeing green as a result), there’s no reason why we can’t continue celebrating in more sober ways. After all, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the man who brought Christianity to Ireland, and Irish culture just wouldn’t be the same without it. Here are three Irish traditions that are not your typical shamrocks, leprechauns, and corned beef (Those who are Irish or of Irish decent may or may not know these):
1) Blue Wedding Dress: Yep, you read that right. It’s an old Irish tradition for a bride to wear a blue wedding gown. White only took the top spot because Queen Victoria made it popular, but both colors symbolize purity and innocence. If anyone wants to follow this tradition, you already have your “something blue.” How sweet is that? See more here.
2) Tea: For all the Americans out there who are obsessed with coffee, you have officially met your match. The Irish drink more tea per capita than any other country in the entire world! They average about 4-6 cups per day (and counting), and they drink more of it than any alcoholic beverage. Take that England! Black tea is the most popular, and it’s the custom to take your tea with milk and sugar. See more here.
3) Dual Citizenship: Ok, so this one is not necessarily a tradition, but we can call it a really cool perk. If you were born to Irish parents, or if you have a grandparent who is Irish and born in Ireland, then you qualify for Irish citizenship and an Irish passport. There are a lot of regulations that go along with this process, but why pass up on being even more connected to your roots? See more here.
Ireland has more to it than Guinness and pots of gold. Get to know this tiny island on a whole new leve1, and make plans to make next year’s St. Patrick’s Day a little more unique!
