March has finally arrived and with it we welcome the arrival of spring and we hope for warmer weather. March is also the month where most of the world, and not only Ireland, will celebrate St Patrick’s Day!

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, who was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon by dancing, drinking and feasting on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and sausage. 

But in these times of pandemic where getting together to party is frowned upon, if not completely forbidden, how can we celebrate this joyous occasion? We give you a few ideas below to make St Patrick’s day a special day even if you have to stay at home.

1. Enjoy some traditional Irish Food
Try authentic Irish foods to stay in the Irish spirit this St Patrick’s day. You could even try cooking it yourself, to make it extra special and enjoyable.

2. Drink (reasonably) some typical Irish brews
These top 10 drinks from Ireland will keep you merry but remember to drink responsibly.

3. Listen to traditional Irish Music
Head to Spotify or Deezer to listen to Irish playlists that are sure to put you in the mood to dance as if you were in an Irish pub!

4. Watch movies
Movies are a great way to discover a culture from all its angles, bonus points if you watch them in the original language. This list of 
the 50 best Irish films ever made according to the Irish Times will give you tons of inspiration.

5. Play fun games
This is a good one especially if you have kids at home, as it has the added bonus of keeping them occupied for a while! Here are some fun St Patrick’s day games for kids
 to try out.

6. Dress up
This can work for both kids and adults, get the makeup out and have fun! Leprechaun, shamrock, Guinness… more inspiration on this list of St Patrick’s day Costume ideas.

7. Learn English 
Finally, practice your English with BSL. Our English Outdoor program is the perfect way to mix pleasure and studying. And why not even practice your Irish accent with your teacher and classmates 🙂

We hope you enjoy St Patrick’s day this year! Have fun and stay safe!