All decked in green

A loaf of Irish soda bread. “It takes about an hour to make, but the main ingredients are: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, currants or raisins (optional, we don’t really use them ourselves), an egg, and a bit of buttermilk.” Dalton Leitz, freshman, said.

“To me this holiday is just a way to celebrate [my nationality and show my Irish pride],” Dylan Howell, junior, said.

Howell’s parents are very Irish, and have family in Ireland according to Howell. In the past they have celebrated the holiday in Ireland on their extended family’s farm. The opportunity to celebrate in Ireland is one of Howell’s favorite memories because “they really know how to throw a party [and have a good time],” Howell said.

“The main difference between St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland and the US is in Ireland it is a national holiday which means everyone gets off work and school,” Howell said. “Traditionally [people get] together with close friends and family and have a party which involves a lot of drinking and playing games, [and the pubs are filled].”

The United States does not shut down to celebrate the holiday, but there are many parades and festivities that occur. In addition to the multiple events held across the country, many people have traditions within their homes. Each year Howell’s family buys Irish pudding and sets it on fire. 

“The way it works is you soak fig pudding in alcohol, usually something very flammable like whiskey, and light the whiskey on fire,” Howell said. “I honestly don’t know the meaning behind it (burning the pudding), and I have never questioned it. My dad said he grew up doing this tradition, and my family has been doing it for as long as I can remember.”

Dalton Leitz’s, freshman, middle name is Patrick after Saint Patrick according to Leitz. He makes Irish Soda bread with his family on St. Patrick’s Day, and “we’ll listen to some traditional Irish music, since that’s normally what happens on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland,” Leitz said.

“Irish soda bread tastes a little mild, but [if you add] butter it tastes amazing. The texture of it is pretty good as well, kind of like a biscuit,” Leitz described.

Leitz’s mom and sister usually do the baking because “they’re the chefs in my family,” Leitz said. The best part of the process is getting to eat the bread, according to Leitz. 

Not only is the holiday a time to show Irish pride and celebrate, but it is a religious day in Ireland. According to Leitz, the religious aspect is less represented in America, and it has become a celebration of Irish culture. 

“I [don’t] blame people for wanting to have something to celebrate. Life is hard, [people] need breaks every once in a while, and I think Saint Patrick’s Day has plenty of celebratory qualities,” Leitz said.