What is the history of St. Patrick's Day? 🇮🇪
Initially, in the 17th century, Saint Patrick's Day was a traditional Roman Catholic feast day in honor of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. In later centuries, especially among the Irish diaspora in North America, Saint Patrick's Day gained larger cultural momentum and is recognized as a celebration of Irish-American immigrants, Irish heritage, and culture in general.
As celebrations have become more mainstream in Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries, celebrations include public St. Patrick's Day parades, wearing green, indulging in Irish food and drinks, and more. This year, plan St. Patty’s Day events that get back to the historic roots of the celebration in an educational way.
Read on for some easy-to-plan, fun St. Patrick's Day work ideas, suitable for in-person or remote teams!
6 ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the whole office:
1. Make a playlist of Irish music 🎶
In anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, ask each team member to share a song by their favorite Irish artists. Then, compile the suggestions into one St. Patrick's Day playlist that the whole office can enjoy while working solo, or make it the soundtrack to some of the St. Patrick's Day activities listed below!
Here are some Irish bands and musicians to get you started:
- Sinéad O'Connor
- U2
- The Cranberries
- Enya
- Thin Lizzy
- The Pogues
- The Dubliners
- The Corrs
- Hozier
Don't forget to throw in some classic Irish music as well to practice your Irish dancing. Pick a traditional online dance tutorial to learn a jig and get into the true St. Patrick's Day spirit.
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? There are plenty of studies that show the ways music helps bring people closer together. It is one of the most powerful forms of communication after all! Sharing our favorite music with our colleagues is a wonderful way to learn more about each other, and connect in deeper ways. Plus, everyone will get a chance to learn about new Irish musicians they've never heard of before!
How to get started 👉 Compile your employee's suggestions into a collaborative St. Patrick's Day playlist using Youtube or Spotify!
2. Play St. Patrick's Day themed games 🎉
For the team who wants St. Patrick's Day activities that spark a little friendly competition, game-show Irish trivia is the perfect event! In St. Patrick's Day Jeoparty, teams will go head-to-head to answer questions about Irish music, Irish geography, myths, folklore, Irish culture, and more.
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? This event is perfect for celebrating the holiday, with more in-depth information about Irish history and culture. We guarantee your teams will walk away knowing more about Ireland and St. Paddy's Day than they did before!
How to get started 👉 Learn more about Saint Patrick's Day with a fun round of St. Patrick's Day Jeoparty!
3. Take an Irish Soda Bread making class 🍞
Do you work with a remote team? Gather your employees to bake bread together in a virtual baking experience from their own homes. In our Irish Soda Bread baking class, an expert baker will walk your team through all the steps that go into making this traditional Irish recipe, plus a delicious honey butter spread to go with your loaf.
Before you get your hands dirty, your host will give you a brief overview of this bread and its history in Irish culture. While your bread bakes, enjoy fun icebreakers that will bring the whole team closer together!
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? Food is the ultimate connector. It connects us to the past and the people around us! This hands-on activity is a unique way to engage distributed employees through a shared activity that also touches on Irish history and culture.
How to get started 👉 Learn some history and Irish culture in an Irish Soda Bread Baking Class!
4. Throw an Irish potluck 🍽
Everyone loves an office potluck, so throw one that's decked out in the St. Patrick's Day theme!
- Create a festive atmosphere in the office with decorative four-leaf clovers, green streamers, and maybe even a pot o' gold.
- Encourage guests to bring a dish! There are many classic Irish recipes to choose from, including shepherd's pie, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, colcannon, bread pudding, and more!
- If your St. Patrick's Day Party is taking place at the end of the day, make an Irish coffee bar complete with Irish whiskey.
- Don't forget to wear green so you don't get pinched by a leprechaun. Make it a competition by hosting an office costume contest, whoever sham-rocks the greenest outfit wins!
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? A festive potluck is a great way to bring your office together for some connection and quality time. Plus, asking guests to bring a traditional Irish dish is a great way to introduce everyone to a food they've never tried before!
How to get started 👉 Make a sign-up sheet where everyone can sign up to bring a different Irish food. Psst...Don't forget to make sure there are enough options for your vegans and vegetarians at the table!
5. Bring the Irish pub to the office 🍻
Instead of taking an office field trip to the local pub for an after-work happy hour, why not bring the taste of Ireland to you? Host an educational experience trying some of Ireland's finest provisions, and host an Irish whiskey or Irish beer tasting!
In these interactive experiences, your host will walk you through a sampling of Ireland's tastiest provisions. You'll learn how to taste a variety of spirits or brews and draw conclusions about the difference in flavor profiles to find what you love the most!
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? Happy hours can get a little old after a while. A hosted tasting experience is a great way to shake up the monotony and enrich your teams with more history of Irish brewing and distilling! We guarantee you'll impress everyone at the pub with the new tasting notes you learn. Sláinte!
How to get started 👉 Instead of drinking green beer, try a variety of brews in an Irish Beer Tasting!
6. Share some good luck 💚
This is the perfect holiday to show your employees some love and the luck of the Irish! To spread some cheer, drop a gift of some chocolate gold coins with a little handmade card on all of your employee's desks. Working remotely? Send them a sweet note in their inbox to start their day instead.
Here are some traditional Irish sayings to wish your employees good luck this St. Patty’s day:
- May your heart be light and happy, may your smile be big and wide. And may your pockets always have a coin or two inside.
- For each petal on the shamrock, this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness for today and every day.
- May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door.
Why is this a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at work? St. Patrick's Day is all about spreading Irish blessings and well-wishes, and it's always a great time to spread some employee appreciation around the office as well!
How to get started 👉 Design free, themed St. Patrick's Day cards for your employees using Canva!
Celebrate the luck of the Irish with Confetti ☘️
In conclusion, St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time to bring fun, festive energy to the office and boost employee engagement while learning even more about Irish history and heritage.
Ready to get the party started? Check out our St. Patrick's Day Collection and book your event in just a few easy clicks!
