I love St. Patrick's Day.I might even go as far to say it's my favorite holiday after Christmas. There's just something about the cheery shamrocks and traditions that makes St. Patrick's Day something I look forward to each year. Unlike other holidays, St. Patrick's Day offers people the opportunity to celebrate the characteristics that epitomize the Irish spirit - a sense of pride, camaraderie and love of life. March 1 is the official start to St. Patrick's Day in our home. That's the day my mom unwraps the leprechaun window stickers and the shamrock cookie cutters. Decorating for St. Patrick's Day with my family has sort of become an official event in our house. My mom and I pull out the cookie sheets and bread pans to make shamrock sugar cookies and my grandma's famous Irish soda bread. My dad carefully selects decorating music - usually the Dubliners - and teams up with my brothers and sister to hang shamrock garland and an Irish flag outside our door. Everyone has found their own way to add something to the celebration.And when all the work is done, our house shines.When I was in high school, I loved pulling up on the driveway and seeing the cute leprechaun and shamrock cutouts in our window. I remembered how my we stood on tiptoes putting up the shamrocks in the top window and how, when we were finished, we stood back and admired our work. Those decorations also helped brighten up our yard on a gloomy, snowy day and reminded me that spring and St. Patrick's Day were on their way. Looking down the block this year during spring break, I couldn't help but smile as I glanced out the car window to see my neighbors decorating their homes for St. Patrick's Day and heard my friends' plans for the holiday. Whether Irish or not, nearly everyone has found his or her own way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Some choose to serve corned beef and cabbage with Green River. Others opt to make the trek to a local Irish pub and, among other things, enjoy the fun-loving Irish bands that frequent the restaurants. Taking a break from their fast-paced lives, people have the chance to catch up with friends and share stories. Regardless, the holiday has become more of a reason to anticipate and celebrate in the midst of dreary winter days. So for whatever reason and in whatever way you choose to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, have a great time - I know I will.
