Get 11 different ideas of fun St. Patrick’s Day traditions you can start with your family this year. Having traditions is a great way to build a strong family culture and family bonds.
St. Patrick’s Day is often associated with parades, green, pinching, and shamrocks, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity to create lasting family traditions. Whether your family has celebrated this holiday for years or you’re just beginning to explore the festivities, here are some creative and fun traditions to start this year that will make St. Patrick’s Day a memorable occasion for everyone!
This post is assuming that you WANT to have some family traditions around this holiday. Do not feel like you must. Some people like to make a big deal out of these smaller holidays while others let them go by without much notice at all. There isn’t one wrong or right way to approach it. Just do what works best for your family.
Also, you can always take on just one or two traditions rather than a whole list of things. So if you want to do something but also what to keep it low-key, just amend things to work for you.
1. Create a “Leprechaun Trap”
One of the most magical aspects of St. Patrick’s Day is the idea of mischievous leprechauns sneaking around and hiding their gold. Have your kids work together to create a “leprechaun trap” using craft supplies. Leave the trap out overnight, and in the morning, your kids can find it “rummaged through” by the leprechaun with little bits of “gold” (chocolate coins or other treats) left behind as a prize.
2. St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt
Add some adventure to your celebration by organizing a scavenger hunt. You can hide clues around the house or backyard with St. Patrick’s Day-themed riddles, like finding a green item or a four-leaf clover. This is a great way to get kids moving and excited while building anticipation for the day’s events.
3. Cook a “Green Feast”
What better way to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit than with a fun, themed meal? Involve the whole family in preparing a “green feast” by making dishes that are naturally green, such as spinach salad, green pancakes, or green smoothies. For dessert, why not bake some shamrock-shaped cookies or a green velvet cake? Everyone will love getting creative in the kitchen together!
Notice I said “naturally green.” I say that just because one year early in our parenting, we thought it would be fun to dye the milk green overnight. Well, Brayden and Kaitlyn were NOT having that. They would NOT drink it. Green milk surely meant something was wrong with it. So if you decide to dye things green, just keep that type of reaction in mind. Maybe dye a cup of milk green rather than the entire jug.
Alternatively, you could make some traditional Irish foods for the holiday. It is always fun to be able to teach your kids about cultures they are unfamiliar with.
4. Wear “Lucky” Outfits
If you don’t want to be pinched, you need to wear green. A tradition that’s easy to start (and a favorite for many!) is dressing up in green clothes to avoid getting pinched! You can make this tradition extra special by letting your kids pick out their own “lucky” outfits each year. Whether it’s a cute shamrock shirt, a green tutu, or simply fun accessories, it’s a fun way to get in the spirit while showing off your family’s personal style.
5. Irish Storytime
Introduce your family to Irish folklore by reading a few classic Irish stories or fairy tales. Stories about leprechauns, fairies, and magical creatures can spark your kids’ imaginations and teach them about Irish culture. You could even make it a special part of your bedtime routine for the entire month of March.
St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on your blessings. Take a moment each year to gather around the dinner table and share what you’re grateful for. This can be a simple family tradition that fosters a sense of gratitude and togetherness. You might even include a small “pot of gold” (a decorated jar or box) where everyone writes down something they are thankful for, then reads them out loud. I love this idea because we tend to focus a lot on gratitude around Thanksgiving, but no other holiday really brings a big focus on gratitude with it. This is a great opportunity to add it in to another month of the year. You can never be too grateful!
7. Dance to Irish Music
Nothing says St. Patrick’s Day like lively Irish tunes! Create a playlist of traditional Irish music and teach your family some simple Irish dance steps, like a jig. This is a great way to stay active and have fun while celebrating Irish culture. Even if you’re not the best dancer, the laughter and joy of dancing together is what matters most. You could even try to do some Irish Dance at home…which is not easy.
8. Volunteer Together
St. Patrick’s Day can also be a wonderful time to give back to the community. Consider volunteering together as a family—whether it’s helping at a local food bank, organizing a neighborhood clean-up, or participating in a charity event. This tradition of giving back will help teach your kids the importance of kindness and service to others.
9. Watch a St. Patrick’s Day Movie
Finish off the day by watching a family-friendly movie with an Irish theme. Classic films like The Secret of Kells, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, or The Luck of the Irish can be a perfect way to wind down and enjoy time together. You could even prepare a “movie snack” like popcorn with green sprinkles or Irish soda bread.
10. Explore Your Family’s Irish Heritage
If your family has Irish roots, take time on St. Patrick’s Day to explore and share your heritage. Look up your family’s history, learn about your ancestors, or even try out some Irish phrases. If you don’t have Irish ancestry, it’s still fun to learn about the culture, especially with kids. You could make a tradition of celebrating any heritage you have, by exploring and honoring your roots together.
11. St. Patrick’s Day Learning Activities
If your kids are young enough (or old enough) to enjoy learning activities, don’t let the holiday go by without doing at least one fun, St. Patrick’s Day themed learning activity! Some fun ideas include making clover handprints, making a rainbow fruit platter, doing graphs with Lucky Charms, creating a paper plate rainbow streamer, and making shamrocks using potatoes and paint. There is no shortage of ideas on the internet, so you can definitely find something you would like to do!
Conclusion
Starting a St. Patrick’s Day tradition is a great way to bond with your family and create lasting memories. Whether you’re building leprechaun traps, dancing to Irish tunes, or cooking together in the kitchen, these traditions will give your family something to look forward to each year. Have fun, get creative, and don’t forget to wear green!
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