Happy St. Patrick’s Day! COVID-19 is sure to make the holiday a subdued one this year, but we want to help you celebrate from isolation with some St Patricks Day gifts that are as fun to look at as they are to buy.
When I think of St. Patrick’s Day, I think of parades, wearing green and drinking. It’s actually a religious holiday in Ireland, honoring the country’s patron saint. The parades are an American invention. According to History.com, the origins of the St. Patrick’s Day we know today was started by Irish vicar Ricardo Artur in a Spanish colony that’s now St. Augustine in Florida. He organized a celebration for the saint in 1600 and the first parade the following year.
In 1772, the celebration was continued in New York City by Irish soldiers serving in the British military. The used the day to sway some of their homesickness, and St. Patrick’s Day was never the same again.
This year, while some people plan to continue their pub crawls despite the threat of COVID-19, I applaud band Dropkick Murphys decision to livestream a free conference to the world tonight at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
However you’re celebrating today, check out our list of 13 fun St. Patrick’s Day gifts to lift your spirits and honor your inner Irish.
LEPRECHAUN SOCKS
Leprechauns are as Irish as Guinness. They’re faerie folk in Irish mythology. YourIrish.com says leprechauns inhabited Ireland before the Celts, survive hundreds of years and are descended from Irish royalty. Sounds good! Show your friends and family you understand their love of all things Irish by giving them a pair of these cute leprechaun socks. They’re 85% cotton, 10% polyester and 5% spandex and well loved by reviewers.
SLAINTE T-SHIRT
This tee is the perfect drinking buddy. Slaintѐ is the word the Irish use to make a toast, or the equivalent of the British “Cheers”. According to My Read Ireland, it means “good health”. This Red Bubble tee is available in lots of styles and colors, but this Kelly Green on black is my favorite. Slaintѐ to you!
IRISH CURSES, BLESSINGS AND TOASTS
My mother-in-law gave my husband a great T-shirt with this Irish blessing: “As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.” Wise words, those. The Irish are known for their wit, wisdom and whimsy, and author Nicholas Nigro collects them in this book. A great addition to your St. Patrick’s Day gifts for those who love the Irish.
IRISH PUB SONGS
Pub songs are part of the culture in Britain, and especially in Ireland. This collection has 17 songs performed by various artists. I even remember some of the songs from when I was a kid growing up in England, like Molly Malone, sung here by the Dublin City Ramblers. Everyone knows Danny Boy, performed here by Sean Dunphy. The set also includes Seven Drunken Nights, by Patsy Watchorn and The Fields of Athenry by Paddy Reilly.
FANNY PACK WITH BEER HOLDER
If you were going to a St. Patrick’s Day parade today, this would be the perfect thing to wear. Pockets to safely keep money and keys, but also a bonus drink holder! Of course, it’s green and covered in lucky four-leaf clovers.
LET’S GET READY TO STUMBLE TEE
Drinking might not have been the original reason for St. Patrick’s Day, but it has become one of its traditions. This T-shirt acknowledges that in the funniest way. It’s from Red Bubble and available in all sizes, lots of styles and plenty of colors. But for St. Patrick’s Day, you might want to go with this classic green.
SHENANIGANS TEE
It seems that St. Patrick’s Day and shenanigans go hand in hand. This T-shirt celebrates that, with a lucky four-leaf clover in the colors of the Irish flag. It comes in sizes for all and 5 different colors, although we like this Kelly Green the best, especially for St. Patrick’s Day gifts.
CLOVER COOKIE CUTTERS
If you eat cookies in the shape of a four leaf clover, will they bring you luck? I’d be happy to find out. This 3-piece set has a 4.5-inch cutter, 3 3/8-inch cutter and 2 1/5-inch cutter. All of them are 1-inch deep. If you’re not a cookie person—although, seriously, who isn’t—these cutters could also work on soft cheeses, fruits or breads (like in the picture), or used as a mold.
SHAMROCK SHORTBREAD
If you don’t feel like making your own shamrock cookies, try this shamrock shortbread. I LOVE shortbread. Smooth, slightly sweet butter cookies that have a wonderful texture when you bite into them. Honestly, I could eat a whole box in one sitting. I’ve always been partial to Walker’s brand, which is Scottish. O’Neills is from Ireland, and these cookies have great reviews.
CLOVER SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS
How adorable are these salt and pepper shakers? The shamrock was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holly Trinity. Why not use them to add spice to your meals? These shakers are ceramic and don’t look too big. One review said they spill easily, but no matter what, they’re a cute decoration.
VADER MASH-UP TEE
I love a good mash-up, and when it involves Star Wars, all the better. You can show anyone not wearing green your disapproval with the power of Darth Vader thanks to this T-shirt. The tee is 90% cotton and 10% polyester. Reviews are good, saying it’s comfy and washes well.
KISS MY LUCKY IRISH ASS BENDER SHIRT
Here’s another fun St. Patrick’s Day mashup tee, this time with Bender from Futurama. This shirt is from TeeFury and comes in all sizes, as a tee, sweatshirt or tank. You can also get it in grey or cream, but, come on, this is Irish. It should be green.
FOUR-LEAF CLOVER LIGHTS
We could all use lots of luck nowadays. I can’t promise these four-leaf clovers will bring it, but the lights are fun. The 10-foot string holds 40 LED lights, and there are 8 blinking modes that can be selected on the battery box or remote. The seller says they’re waterproof, so good for use indoors and outdoors.
Get your friends and family in the Irish spirit with these St. Patrick’s Day gifts.
