St. Paddy's Day, a day to celebrate the death of the patron saint of Ireland.
Or a day to get totally bombed. Whatever you want. If you're not in church praying all of St. Paddy's prayers, you're probably in a bar covered in green (like most). If you find yourself in this situation, you have come to the right place! We have consulted a veteran celebrator of St. Paddy's Day to tell us how we can survive the day and actually enjoy it.
Get cookin'! Whether you are a parade-goer or a bar crawler, start your day with a nice big breakfast.
Wanna go Irish breakfast? According to Spruce Eats, "All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak (yes, we looked that up for you). There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink."
With that being said, do not JUST eat breakfast. Snack throughout the day
Gina Shields
Your stomach will thank you.
Hydrate ya' self
GiphyNo, not with beer. Put that glass down. Get some H2O into that system if you even want to last untill 5!
Don't rush it. Pace yourself
Gina Shields
You'll be everywhere and probably out for a long time. If you want to last the day, pace yourself! Tapping out at 2 p.m. is no way to celebrate Paddy's Day. He wouldn't want that for you.
Pick the right group to go out with. You will have so much more fun this way.
Sarah Mcquillan
P.S. Safety first! One of your group members should be someone who likes to be responsible. They'll have enough fun but will ensure you get home okay. Trust us, you'll thank us later for this.
NO DRIVING.
Come on now. This is a given. Lyft and Uber have free ride coupons if you're a new user or if you refer a friend! Grab a ride with your friends and split the price. It's either this or court fees and jail time.
Take A LOT of pictures! (And please, make sure one of y'all has a charger!)
Madyson Thompson
When the details of the day start to get fuzzy it can help remember your night. And they're usually good for a good laugh. But you can't have any of that if you have a dead phone! Bring a charger!
Always go out with Aspirin/Advil/Ibuprofen. Take your pick.
Between the bagpipes, loud music and overall merriment of the day, you will be thankful you brought that little container with you. Also, take some before bed with a big glass of water and your hangover won't be as unbearable.
Do an Irish Jig! Even if you don't know how to, just hop around and have fun with it!
Rachel Goldfield
Worried about embarrassment? 1. Everyone will most likely not remember 2. Who gives a shit? You're having fun! 3. If someone records, you will have something to laugh at the next day.
Moral of this step: have fun. Don't worry about what people think. Jump around and have fun with it!
It's the weekend of Irish Whiskeys. Know them. Love them.
Whiskeys like Jameson, Tullamore Dew, and Bushmills (some of the most popular ones) are best served with water or on the rocks. Before you start downing yourself in Jameson shots, see if your bartender has any specials or suggestions! There are some cool concoctions that include whiskey!
Traveling? Plan ahead! Find out where the locals go to avoid crowds and long lines.
Samantha Wylesol
Major cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Savannah are usually hot spots to visit if you are in the United States. Plan ahead by seeing where the locals go.
Irish music is best live, so find a bar featuring one!
They'll play all your favorite Dropkick Murphys.
That being said, try a ticketed bar crawl around these cities!
Taylor Cline
They usually take you to some of the best spots. They might even offer specials, swag, and some have buses taking you where you need to go (or discounted transportation), so no worrying about driving!
Philadelphia: Erin Express (FREE), The Shamrock Crawl, LUCK OF THE IRISH ST PADDY'S PUB CRAWL
Boston: Irish Stroll, Kegs N' Eggs
Chicago: Chicago River Crawl, The Five Saints Bar Crawl
Savannah: River Street
Not your city?? There are still a TON of ticketed bar crawls. A simple google search will bring up a few! There are a ton more than these, too! These are just some options.
Get festive! It's not every day you can go out in a green tutu or be covered in shamrocks.
Gina Shields
Green everything, please.
Know your limit
Gina Shields
If you're drinking all day, there comes a time where you need to stop. Just because you're at a new bar doesn't mean you have to drink. You want to enjoy yourself.
Alright, we have to address the proper Irish Car Bomb etiquette.
GiphyNot all bars sell them, so ask if you want one! You'll get the occasional great bartender who knows what they are doing, but you also might get one who refuses to serve it because of the controversy behind it. If and when you take one, take it fast, but let's actually drink it and not have it end up all over ourselves.
Obviously (the most important step), have fun, stay safe, and Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Jenny Getts
Special thanks to our veteran celebrator Gina Shields for helping us have the best St. Paddy's Day we possibly can!
