St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on Friday this year. So, if you feel so inclined you can actually celebrate the whole weekend. And, goodness knows there’s plenty of places in and around the Charlotte area to commemorate the day. Don’t worry if you missed the parade. Just about every restaurant and bar in the Queen City and beyond hosts some sort of pub crawl. And, good news if you seek something that doesn’t necessarily involve alcohol. I found a couple of other fun activities the whole family can enjoy. And, those are included in my list of 10 places in Charlotte to celebrate.
Now, in searching some history of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations I found some interesting traditions. I’ll preface this by saying this information came from a Google search of Wikipedia. Therefore, take its accuracy for what it’s worth. But, it’s fun regardless. Have you heard of the “drowning of the Shamrock?” Apparently, legend has it that when a celebration concludes the Irish put a shamrock in the bottom of a cup. Then, they fill it with whiskey. They follow up with a toast to St. Patrick, Ireland or whomever they wish. Now, they either swallow the shamrock or remove it and toss it over the shoulder for luck. This sounds similar to the way we toss salt over our shoulder for luck. And, if you wonder how the day became associated with drinking there’s apparently a reason for that. Historically, the day went hand in hand with the lifting of “Lenten” restrictions on eating and drinking, at least for one day. So, wear your green, grab your shamrocks and make plans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day all across Charlotte and beyond.