St. Patrick's Day Recipes to Take Your Celebration Over the Rainbow (2024)

FAQs

How is a rainbow connected to St Patrick's Day? ›

Patrick was a Christian saint who preached God's word in a country transitioning from paganism. St. Patrick viewed the rainbow as a representation of God's promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood.

It has also become custom for people to pinch each other for not wearing green, as it is seen as bad luck. In ancient Ireland, shamrocks are considered to be sacred and symbolize the rebirth of spring.

The rainbow has more meaning to the Irish than just finding a pot of gold. Accomplishing that task can be very difficult, but in Celtic culture the rainbow signifies hope and goals.

A traditional Irish St. Patrick's Day meal: Brown Butter Oven-Roasted Salmon, Colcannon, Simply Sautéed Mixed Cabbage and soda bread. Let's get one thing straight: Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish meal. The dish evolved among Irish American immigrants, not in the old country.

Patrick's Day celebrations call for displays of green from town fountains and beer to clothing and food. Speaking of food, green cabbage is a traditional ingredient in Irish dishes but there are more kidney-friendly green veggie recipes to consider for this holiday meal.

From lamb in spring to fish in summer, stews and soups in winter and, of course, potatoes at almost any time of the year, Irish food involves simple, hearty, family cooking that follows the seasons.

What is the difference between Colcannon and Champ? Both Irish dishes, Champ is mashed potatoes with chopped spring onions (scallions) and milk. Colcannon is Champ with the addition of cabbage and sometimes some herbs.

Our association with corned beef as traditional Irish fare can be traced back to the 19th century and the Irish immigration to the U.S. While the newly immigrated Irish were used to eating salt pork back at home, its nearest counterpart, bacon, was prohibitively expensive in the U.S.

What is a typical St Patrick's Day menu? ›

When it comes to dinner on St. Patrick's Day, the most popular meal is corned beef and cabbage—often accompanied by a green beer or two. The boiled dinner and its liquid accompaniment dominate the menu of Irish bars and restaurants up and down the country on March 17, and many home cooks serve the dish, too.

Myth has it that leprechauns hide a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. So if you see one on St. Patrick's Day, but sure to follow it to find this treasure!

The green stripe in the Irish flag also played a role. Traditionally, the green represents the Catholics of Ireland, the orange represents the Protestant population and the white in the middle symbolizes the peace between the two religions.

Folklore depicts leprechauns as mistrustful creatures who detest humans. According to legend, leprechauns found the abandoned gold and buried it again so no human could ever find it. The old folktales tell us that there is a pot of gold hidden where the end of any rainbow touches the earth.

Shamrocks—a three-leafed clover long associated with Ireland—are indelibly associated with St. Paddy's day.