How to Host a St. Patty's Day Party

In the U.S., St. Patrick's Day is a holiday when people get together and drink, laugh, be a bit silly, and generally just celebrate being with friends. It's a casual but spirited holiday, and one that deserves a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in which to celebrate. Throwing your own St. Patrick's Day party is great excuse to invite over all the people you really enjoy having fun with. Remember as the host, it's your responsibility to ensure the safety of your guests. If you intend to serve alcohol, appoint a non-drinker as the "Keeper of the Keys," post the number for a taxi service up near the phone, and put a stack of sleeping bags in the den where people can grab one if they need to stay over.

DECORATIONS and FUN

-Gold-foil-covered chocolate coins can double as both decorations and snacks: they can be hidden, spread over flat surfaces, or served in a small black pot as a "Pot o' Gold."

-Have green scarves or Irish flag bandanas to hand out to your guests (but you can let the ones not wearing green or orange get pinched a couple times first!)

-Anything with a shamrock on it that you can find at the grocery store or drug store will work; however, why not just but shamrock stickers and decorate your own cups and plates? (Holiday stickers are also a great buy after the holidays, because they won't take as much room as other decorations you can find on sale.) Shamrock stickers can also be given out as party favors or used as game prizes.

-Streamers are inexpensive decorations that make an instant impact. Buy them in green, white and orange. However, the hosts shouldn't waste time hanging them: these are best when put up by someone who you need out of your hair, like kids, inebriated guests, or your mother-in-law.

-St. Patrick is famous in folk legend for luring all the snakes out of Ireland. You could pass out "pipes"-party stores sell kazoos, whistles, and recorders that are as fun (or more) at adult parties as they are at children's.

-And of course, silly Leprechaun hats are really a must for any St. Patty's day party!

DRINKS

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated as a drinking holiday in the U.S. But there are many fun non-alcoholic options available for this holiday, also.

First, Non-Alcoholic Drinks:

-Green non-alcoholic beer (see recipe for Green Beer, below)

-Apple Cider

-Green sherbet-punch:

mix: 2 2L. bottles Lemon-lime Soda and 2c. Pineapple juice, add: 1 gallon Lime sherbet

Alcoholic Drinks:

-Beers such as: Guinness, Harp (a lager made by the same company as Guinness), Killian's Irish Red, or any Oatmeal Stout

-Irish Coffee: 1 ¼ oz. Irish whiskey, ¾ oz. Irish Cream Liquor, fill with coffee, top with whipped cream and green sprinkles

-Green Beer:

add a couple drops of green food-coloring to a light-colored beer (pilsner)

Be careful with this-don't leave the green food coloring out where your guests can find it, and don't accidentally dye the inside of a container that you don't own!

FOOD

Common Irish foods that are easy to get in the U.S. include: yeasty bread rolls, oat bread, lamb, ham, salmon, potatoes, leeks, and apples. (Many recipes for the food can be found by doing searches on the Internet.)

So an example of an Appetizer Menu would be:

-lamb meatballs

-rolled-up slices of ham

-potato skins (labeled "Irish Nachos," of course!)

(or just serve tater tots with fancy toothpicks)

-apple slices

-oat mini-muffins

A fancier Buffet-Style Menu might include:

-sliced ham

-braised lamb

-cold salmon garnished with grilled leeks

-scalloped potatoes

-yeasty bread rolls

-Hot Cross Buns

-oat bread

-apple dumplings or fritters

Other good Snacks include:

-Any green foods like celery sticks and green melon balls (honeydew)

-Lucky-Charm Trail Mix:

1 box Lucky Charms, 1 can mixed nuts, 2 bags holiday green M&M's, 2T edible gold glitter or green sprinkles

Remember, be safe and have fun!