Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the traditional way!

St. Patrick’s Day is a day for celebration! Decked out in green with your shamrocks, you sit down with a plate of corned beef and cabbage. But where do these traditions come from? While St. Patrick’s Day is largely an American holiday started by Irish immigrants in New York, our traditions have roots in Irish history. Check out the history behind these St. Patrick’s Day traditions and how you can celebrate them.

Green: Wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is a must! While the original color of St. Patrick’s Day was blue, Irish nationalism during British rule made green popular. Additionally, it’s said in Irish folklore that green makes you invisible to mischievous leprechauns.

Shamrock: The shamrock comes from the ancient Celt tradition. It’s a symbol of the coming of spring.

Leprechauns: Irish folklore tells of small-bodied magical creatures called “lobaircin”. These impish little guys are known to play tricks and protect their secret treasures.

Corned Beef & Cabbage: This tradition came about when the US. Irish immigrants needed meat for their holiday meal, and corned beef was simply the cheapest. The tradition stuck and continues to be a staple of our St. Patrick’s Day tradition.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this corned beef & cabbage recipe! Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

3 pounds corned beef brisket

10 small red potatoes

5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces

1 large head cabbage

Corned beef spice: mustard seeds, bay leaves, allspice berries, salt and pepper

In a large pot, cover the corned beef with water and add all your spices. Bring the water to a boil and continue to let it simmer until the meat is tender. Next, add the potatoes and carrots and cook until they’re soft. Once they’re tender, add the wedges of cabbage. Continue to cook for about 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

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