I know it’s a little early
St. Patrick’s Day is probably my favorite pointless holiday of the year! There are two basic reasons for this—and neither of them are my rich Irish heritage. (Incidentally, I do have Irish heritage, but considering those people died in the US a century before I was born, I don’t really have a strong attachment to the culture from them.)
No, my real reasons are at least half ridiculous:
1.) When I was in college, I spent Thanksgivings with my aunt. Randomly one year when we got up silly early for Black Friday, we began speaking in an Irish accent. These things only make sense before 5 AM.
2.) My first novel, due out next year, features a character from Ireland. I just finished a round of 
edits on the sequel, which features even more characters from Ireland (6!), so I’m up to my neck in Irish accents and slang and culture. I’ve spent approximately 1,000,000 hours studying it 😉 .
So to celebrate, I’m going to share a little “true” Irishness with you.
Eight Myths about Irish Culture and St. Patrick’s Day Dispelled—complete with tips on brushing up your Irish accent and how best to celebrate this weekend!
Irish Potato Candy—real!
Complete with recipe!
Irish Flag Apron—kinda kitschy, but real!
Complete with instructions—and it only cost me $5!
Photos all by me! Okay, and my husband.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Jordan! I have Irish roots, too, (my paternal grandfather was born there) and our family has always found some silly way or another to mark March 17th. Our children remember breakfasts of green porridge, or cereal with green milk, lunch sandwiches of green cream cheese, etc. I was probably a source of embarrassment to them, but they seem to have some fond memories as they now do the same things with/to their kids. Why not? A few shenanigans seem appropriate on a day that celebrates leprechauns!