Going Green on Saint Patty’s Day (My Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Post)

March 10th, 2011

The “green” holiday is becoming anything but green. Back in the “olden days” when I was a kid, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was simple. You put on some green clothing,  a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” button, and made sure to down some beer that night. If you truly had the Luck of the Irish, you got to watch or march in a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day parade, like the one in New York City where I marched for years.

stpattysephoto

But like everything else in our consumerist society, we’re being prompted to buy more “stuff” to celebrate properly. I’ve admitted to loving the tacky, tacky side of Christmas, replete with blow-up inflatables and lighting, but decorating for the holidays is a longstanding tradition. Do we really need more inflatables barely three months later? This year, St. Patrick’s Day inflatables have popped up on suburban lawns, biding their time till they end up in our landfills. (Check it out here). And more and more, the retailers are offering special Cheap Plastic Crap for St. Patrick’s Day. Cheap Plastic Crap is bad enough in kid’s goody bags. Do we really want to encourage it on St. Patrick’s Day too?

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Here are 10 tips for celebrating a truly green, eco-friendly St. Patrick’s Day. Have fun! Luck o’ the Irish to you!
1. Wear Green

2. March or Watch a St. Patrick’s Day Parade

3. Enjoy Some Irish Spirits

4. Sing Irish Songs

5. Visit an Irish Pub or Restaurant

6. Bake and Decorate Some Green Cookies or Cupcakes

7. Try Some Corned Beef and Cabbage Ah, I’ve gone greener since I wrote this post in ’08. Beef is a major contributor to climate change. So skip the corned beef! Tofu and cabbage? Cabbage and beer?  :)

8. Say No to Cheap Plastic Crap for St. Patty’s Day

9. Say No to St. Patty’s Lawn Decorations

10. Smile and Say Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Have fun!

Lynn

Copyright OrganicMania

Note: This post was originally published in 2008.


3 Responses to “Going Green on Saint Patty’s Day (My Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Post)”

  1. Betsy (Eco-novice) on March 10, 2011 5:09 pm

    It is depressing to think how much commercialization has exploded just in the last couple of decades, since I was a kid. I can’t remember seeing St. Patrick’s stuff in the store as a kid.
    Betsy (Eco-novice)´s last blog post ..10 Goals for Decreased Plastic Use &amp Waste

  2. Lynn on March 11, 2011 12:43 pm

    I know…isn’t it crazy? And the funny thing is, it doesn’t sell…the crap left over on March 18th is just bound for the landfill.

  3. Recycle on March 13, 2011 12:47 am

    Buying organic and local stuff not only makes you healthy but also helps out the people or communities who made those things for you. Know more about it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9l0cDUxGm8.

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