).png)
Saint Patrick's Day, celebrated on March 17, is more than just shamrocks and green beer. It has a rich history that goes back centuries, originally honoring St. Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints. It has sense developed into a more rounded celebration of Irish culture and heritage. With the widespread participation in celebrating the day millions of people join in on the festivities.
With over millions of individuals participating this can create substantial waste from single use decorations and themed clothing to be worn once and forgotten, raising the need for more sustainable practices. It might be easier than you think to keep the celebration going with the same excitement without harming the planet or your wallet. In fact, you might find these tips help you save money, and create a more mindful and memorable holiday.
Sustainable Celebration Ideas at Home
Skip running to the store for a cheap fast fashion solution! This is a waste of your money, promotes fast fashion, and likely will end up in a landfill. There are much better, cheaper, and free options for you to feel festive or just avoid being pinched for not wearing green.
Check your Closet: I know it sounds silly and you may think you would know what clothes you possess but there may be a forgotten tee laying around in there. I mean all those missing socks have to end up somewhere right? No, I am pretty sure the washing machine is most responsible for those but likely you have something with some green you had forgotten that could easily play the part for the day. If you can't find anything green or shamrock like then see if there are any articles of clothing you don't really wear or loved that could use an upcycle.
DIY It: If you found something like a stained white shirt or maybe an old comfy tee with a hole then here are some ways to upcycle them for the festivities. Try using natural dyes to turn it green. Natural dyes can easily be made from ingredients sitting right in your kitchen like spinach, avocado pits, or matcha. Embellish it with sewing by hand or with a machine some simple icons, prints, patterns, sayings etc.. Have fun with it! You could use fabric scraps from a forgotten project or some too far gone for repair clothes. You could even make your own stamps from a cut potato to add prints from eco friendly dyes, or paints. A thrift store may even have a craft section for a cool iron on patch, pins, ect.
Source It: Call up a friend and ask to borrow something from their closet. If you have no luck there its time to hit up your local consignment shop or thrift store. A lot of second hand shops arrange their clothing sections by color so it can be super easy to find a suitable option. Who knows you might just find an everyday piece you love from the theme inspired trip.
Once you have something you wanna rock for the holiday, make sure to hang onto it! Don't toss it. This would defeat the purpose of avoiding buying a brand new fast fashion item from a big box store. Plus, next year you will be all set for the next St. Patty's day party you get invited to! Now that you have a cool outfit maybe its time to decorate your space. Whether its for you, your kids, a party, or for fun here are some Eco-Friendly Crafts to decorate any space - indoors or out.
Themed Meals: Take the mundane out of food prep. Try recreating some of your favorite foods with a green twist like pesto raviolis, matcha frosted cupcakes, or spinach and green apple salads! This could be a fun activity to do with your friends or family. You could suggest a recipe to each other and see who can craft the most festive culinary creation. Plus...yum!
Shamrock Garland: Create shamrock shapes from recycled cardboard or paper. This could be an outdated phonebook, old grocery lists, or a marketing flier from the mailbox. To color them you could use crayons, pencils, paints, ect. You can string them together with some yarn and hang them wherever you'd like that splash of color.
DIY Wreaths: Use twigs and seasonal flowers from your yard or a local park to create a beautiful wreath. Adorn it with shamrocks and other greenery for a charming addition to your decor. This one might take a bit more time but its a great excuse to grab some fresh air while practicing sustainable foraging.
Clover Seed Bombs: Mix native and non-invasive clover seeds local to your region with clay or soil and compost to make seed bombs. Once dry, throw them in your garden to promote biodiversity while adding greenery to your outdoor space. This activity can be really quick but you'll have something to look forward to when they all start to sprout.
Functional & Practical
While DIY projects are a great way to celebrate sustainably and on a budget, it’s also perfectly okay to invest in new items—especially if they’re practical, functional, and eco-friendly. For example, our Clover Dew Soap is a great way to add a festive pop of green to your sink. Not only does it double as a beautiful, plastic-free decoration, but it’s also something you’ll
actually use, meaning no extra clutter or seasonal decorations to store away later. Little touches like this bring a "Spring is Coming" kind of vibe into your home after a long chilly winter and a hint of the Saint Patrick's Day spirit all at once.
Celebrate Responsibly
Original traditions were never as wasteful as they are today. Way back in the 1600's the holiday was celebrated via religious services and feasts. Now we have parades, music, food and drink, and most highly ranked... basically anything green especially to be worn. So whether you celebrate in the old traditional ways or the modern ones make sure to prioritize sustainable practices to honor the day’s history and significance while respecting our planet.