Luck o’ the Irish from head to toe

By Megan Steenson

Daily Staff Writer

Whether you are planning on staying home with friends or have already completed your bar crawl schedule, St. Patrick’s Day is cause for celebration and a few accessories. No, it’s not as extravagant as Halloween, but with a little preparation and a few dollars, your St. Paddy’s Day attire can be just as impressive.

Top o’ the morning, top o’ your head

What would this magical, shamrock-filled day be without the ever-popular green derby hat? Many retail stores carry holiday items, and this accessory would seem to be a popular one. The St. Patrick’s Day derby hat can be dressed up or down depending on the rest of your wardrobe. Simple green plastic versions get the point across, but for a glamorous statement try a derby hat covered in green glitter.

You don’t have to spend hours scanning the holiday section at your favorite store to find head accessories for this special day. Hit the arts and crafts section and pick out a few rolls of your favorite ribbon for inexpensive headbands, suspenders or shoelaces. And if you have a few extra gold coins in your pockets, many stores also carry special ribbons to add an extra touch of Irish pride.

“We have endcaps filled with St. Patrick’s Day ribbons to encourage the celebration,” said Sue McPherson, sales associate at Wal-Mart, 3015 Grand Ave.

Other bargain items that can be picked up and turned into luck-of-the-Irish novelty accessories include green bandanas and green-patterned fabric.

Leprechauns aren’t the only ones dressing up

Hats, ribbon and bandanas aren’t the only accessories partygoers can purchase to wear during this year’s St. Paddy’s Day celebration.

If your blood runs green and you’re lucky enough to be Irish, or even if you just want to act like you are, then you need to be sporting the phrase “Kiss me I’m Irish.”

Whether it’s a flashing button or a sparkling sash, many stores carry items with this popular line. But don’t wait until the last minute to purchase your outfit – St. Patrick’s Day items are going fast.

“The day before and St. Patrick’s Day there is a rush for items, but we are usually sold out by then,” said Dan Schroeder, assistant manager at Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, 620 Lincoln Way.

Additional accessories to fill your wardrobe and pot of gold may include reusable Mardi Gras beads, shamrock stickers, earrings, necklaces and rub-on tattoos. Whatever the outing – a small gathering with friends or a night out on the town – St. Patrick’s Day accessories are sure to give you a wee bit more Irish flair.

It’s not authentic just because it’s green

By Rusty Anderson

Daily Staff Writer

It’s that time again: the time to put on your best bright green suit, march down the streets of your town, parade yourself into your favorite local pub and show your Irish pride. Don’t forget to pinch those who are not wearing green, of course.

Many things have become yearly traditions in the United States for St. Paddy’s Day, such as drinking green beer for example, but how Irish is green beer, really?

According to an article published by MSNBC, Thomas Dalldorf, editor and publisher of Celebrator Beer News said, “The worst thing we’ve done about St. Paddy’s Day is to put green food coloring in bad beer. The Irish think we’re absolutely foolish for doing that.”

This is a view that is shared by many Irish enthusiasts and, of course, many beer connoisseurs who pride themselves in their darker, more authentically Irish, taste buds.

So, if not green beer, what is the best way to celebrate the Irish heritage, authentically? The answer is Guinness Draught – a turn to the much darker side of beers. Although the company holds an impressive 49 breweries around the world, the draught is the perfectly authentic choice, especially since it is delivered to your favorite local establishment directly from its home brewery in Dublin, Ireland, itself, where every drop of Guinness Draught is produced.

For the non-beer-drinker or just those watching their Irish figure, there are a number of Irish cocktails, laden with Irish whiskey, Irish Creams and other liqueurs, in order to help you show your Irish pride with integrity and happy taste buds to match.

Authentically Irish beers:

• Guinness
• Harp
• Beamish
• Smithwick’s
• Murphy’s

Holiday tradition changes from honoring a saint to honoring all things Irish

By Holly Morgan

Daily Correspondent

Although St. Patrick’s Day was originally a religious celebration to honor St. Patrick, to us it has become much more. Our memories of the festivities consist of pinching those who don’t wear green and now, giving cheers over a round of green beers. Here are a few reasons not to forget your lucky charms and to take part in the merriment.

The river

A little bit closer to home, some of us may witness the dyeing of the Chicago River. It was actually an accident that started the tradition. According to History.com, city pollution workers were using dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges in 1962, when they realized the color might add to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. That year they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river, which is now cut down to 40 pounds to lessen environmental damage, according to the Web site. This year’s event will take place at 10:45 a.m. March 17.

The parade

Currently, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, according to History.com. More than 150,000 take part in the revelry annually. According to History.com, it all started in 1848 when several New York Irish societies decided to combine their many parades into one. The parade, which is one-and-a-half miles long, does not permit the usual aspects associated with parades such as floats, automobiles and exhibits, according to NY.com. Instead, the Irish 165th Infantry has become the parade’s primary escort and are followed by other Irish organizations through the city.

The leprechaun

Leprechauns, which we see as fun-filled, little men, were not always seen that way. According to History.com, the belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies. Leprechauns were the irritable characters who repaired the shoes of the other fairies. It was not until 1959 that leprechauns had any association to St. Patrick’s Day.

According to History.com, it was then that Walt Disney released “Darby O’Gill & the Little People,” which introduced a friendly, little leprechaun. So, although the leprechaun is a familiar figure of St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland, our version is entirely an American fabrication.

The shamrock

Symbolizing the rebirth of spring, the shamrock is a perfect icon to represent Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. According to History.com, the shamrock was worn by those who wanted to express and take pride in their heritage as the English were trying to seize Irish land and oppress their language and religion. Although the shamrock had been written into history as early as 1571, it was not referred to in connection with St. Patrick’s Day until as late as 1861, according to Theholidayspot.com. Nowadays, it wouldn’t be a St. Patrick’s Day without the appearance of a shamrock.

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday celebrated widely throughout the world. It’s not just for the Irish anymore. Get out your gear, have a green beer and join in on the celebration. St. Patrick’s Day is one day everyone gets to be Irish.

How to celebrate when you don’t drink

By Rachel Rouse

Daily Staff Writer

For some, St. Patrick’s Day is all about green beer or Irish car bombs (the drink). Although this holiday is often thought of as the holiday for the drunkards, its real intention is to celebrate Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

“When I think of St. Pat’s Day I think of a holiday that people of the Irish descent can celebrate where they came from,” said Kelsey Hawbaker, sophomore in child, adult and family services.

FYI offers a few suggestions for a fun and sober St. Paddy’s Day.

Host your own party

What better way to celebrate this holiday than with your closest friends? There’s one stipulation: Admit only those wearing green. Cook up an Irish feast complete with corned beef and cabbage, soda bread and Irish stew. Create your own version of “green beer” by making green punch. Remember to play some Irish music to really set the mood.

Learn an Irish jig

Your friends will be impressed when you bust out moves from “Riverdance” this St. Paddy’s Day. The Irish have several traditional dance steps. To learn them yourself, check out Irelandseye.com. Irish dancing originated as a religious ceremony giving thanks to the oak tree and the sun. This tradition has maintained its popularity and is still performed throughout Ireland.

Go to a St. Patrick’s Day parade

Throughout the country, several cities commemorate this holiday with a parade. Streets are a sea of green, filled with the sounds of Irish pipe bands, laughter and attempted Irish accents. Des Moines’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade is at noon March 17. The parade runs down Locust Street in downtown Des Moines. For a true taste of the Irish culture, this parade is a perfect way to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day.