If you're
Irish - or just wish you were! - nothing says spring throughout
the US like observing the first major holiday of the season
with a fun-filled St. Patrick's Day party.
Whether
its for friends, family, or co-workers all you need to celebrate
the Irish is a sense of fun & humor...and maybe a bit 'o green and a hand
in the kitchen.
If you're
crafty, you can also save extra green with smart ideas for
do-it-yourself invitations, decorations and party games.
Start
out with these time-honored tips, ideas and suggestions and
discover that there's really no mystical formula for hosting
a memorable St. Patrick's Day party..
INVITATIONS
These
should be written in green ink accompanied by Irish
clip art images such as shamrocks, leprechauns, or a pot
of gold. Along with stating the Who, What, Where and When....be
sure to tell your St. Patricks' Day party guests to wear plenty
of green!
For
dessert: lime Jello, or plenty of green frosting over cakes,
cupcakes or cookies. Don't forget the Irish coffee to wash
it all down! ...
DRINKS
Guiness
Stout, Irish whiskey, food coloring to make green beer, or
search the Internet for party drinks made with popular liquers
such as Irish Mist, or Irish Cream (Bushmills or Baileys).
And for something a little different, try a Shamrock
Cocktail to wow your guests.
For young ones,, stock up on unsweetened lemon-lime Kool-Aid, add pineapple juice and a dash of Spite and you have the makings of a kid-friendly St. Patrick's Day party punch!
DECORATIONS
Ireland
travel posters, paper shamrocks, pots of gold, four leaf
clovers, mylar leprechauns, green streamers, green balloons.
From the food and drink to the decorations - it's all about the GREEN!
MUSIC
Check
out your favorite music store for compilations of traditional
Celtic or Irish music. Don't overlook contemporary Irish pop
and rock music from the likes of U2,
The Chieftains, Enya, and Sinead O'Connor.
c.) Arrange
a scavenger
hunt for a lucky horseshoe or rabbit's foot.
PARTY
FAVORS
Send happy
guests home with Irish travel posters, Irish CD's, "Kiss
Me I'm Irish" buttons, packets of green jelly beans,
lucky lottery tickets, or a live shamrock or clover plant.
As each person leaves, don't forget to wish them an enthusiastic
and very heartfelt St. Patrick's Day!
More St. Patrick's Day party ideas around the Web: