We are a proud Irish family and take great joy in celebrating our holiday, St. Patrick's Day. When the kids were very young, I would meet my cousins at an Irish pub to watch Irish dancers and listen to Irish music. We'd go early, before any of the Irishmen drank too much, and head home for an Irish dinner.
When my daughter was a preschooler, we started making cards and sent them to family members complete with a photo of the kids in Irish garb.
When they started school, I would bake shamrock cookies for them to share with their classmates. I'd also play silly "leprechaun" tricks like die the toilet water green or sprinkle gold glitter on their pillow.
My daughter became an Irish Dancer five years ago and walked in the St. Patrick's Day Parade as well as performed at schools all over the city. Our day was non-stop from 7AM until 8PM, and we barely had time to eat. St. Pat's became one of my most dreaded days of the year. I would still make Shepherd's Pie to eat before we collapsed in exhaustion.
She quit dancing this year, and when she told me she wanted to quit (because "it's getting competitive, and I am just a social dancer") I was thrilled to reclaim St. Patrick's day. This year I was so relieved we didn't have to do anything for St. Patrick's Day, that I didn't do anything. I didn't cook anything, buy anything, or make anything. We didn't even go to the parade.
I have to confess that I don't even feel slightly guilty for ditching the past traditions. Maybe I'll play some leprechaun tricks next year or make Irish Stew, but it was nice to have a year off.
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