Like most holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated by American families in a variety of quirky traditions. The day, traditionally known as a feast to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland, can also signify for most of us as the day to eat green cookies, to shop at Party City, and to crowd together on sidewalks awaiting a parade.

Because of the festivities associated with St. Patrick’s Day today, the demographic of participants in the celebration extends far beyond just those who are Irish and Irish-American. The holiday is recognized by most as a day to party with friends and family, wear green from head to toe, and to eat and drink excessively.

Students at NKHS were surveyed to see just how creative and diverse St. Patrick’s Day festivities can be:

Living in Newport when I was younger, it has always been a tradition to go to the Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my family. And now I get to do all the same things with my friends!

When growing up my mom would wake up early and dye the milk and toilet water green, and leave a trail of yarn from our beds around the house in a maze until it led to a pot of chocolate gold coins. Now, I celebrate it by waking up early and dying my brothers’ hair green and for dinner we have corn beef and cabbage.

When I was younger, I would make and decorate a green shoe box, and the “leprechaun” (IE: my parents) would come during the night before St. Patrick’s Day and fill it with some small gifts. Now, I usually wear green and sometimes go to the parade in Newport.

In Kindergarten we had to follow a trail of tiny green tape footprints to the pot of gold which was chocolate coins. As the years went by, we did less and less. Now I just wear a little bit of green, and thats about it

Me and my whole family go to the Rhodes. It’s where my parents got married and there is a huge St. Patrick’s Day party. They even have Irish step dancing, it’s really cool! We also eat a lot of Irish soda bread with real Irish butter.

This March 17th, whether you’ll be dressing up in green mardi gras beads, baking green sugar cookies, piling in a car with friends and driving to the parade, or staying in with family to eat awesome food, remember to enjoy the day and be safe.