Chris O.I, for one, love seasonal traditions and holidays (who doesn’t?). I am especially fond of traditions that are tied to some of the best holidays we get to celebrate each year. Spending time with family and friends, experiencing the joys of the crowd and our loved ones, is beyond compare; there are a reason many of these traditions have been passed down to us by our ancestors and remain treasured parts of our annual fare each annum. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day in spring or Christmas in winter, you can bet that these combinations of seasonal charm and holiday cheer make for some amazing soirees. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite seasonal traditions and the holidays that best encompass them.
St. Patrick’s Day in Spring
While St. Patrick was not an American (nor was he technically Irish), we do have a holiday dedicated to him. It takes place in the spring season, and embodies the resumption of growth and foliage quite well. He is famous for some rather odd and legendary things — like when he reportedly prayed for food for a group of hungry sailors, only for a herd of pigs to appear — but he is perhaps best known for bringing Christianity to Ireland. With the influx of Irish immigrants to the United States in the centuries that followed, the celebrations surrounding the saintly Patrick came with them.
Why Americans are obsessed with wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day (the Irish back in Ireland, in contrast, do not feel the need to dress like foliage on this special day) is a bit of a mystery, however, as is the reasoning behind people feeling obligated to pinch those who do not comply with this traditional dress code. Perhaps we dress in green to resemble the shamrock, the national flower of Ireland, or maybe we do it because it’s a color associated with the nation of Ireland as a whole. Whatever the case, we are committed to it now. Just look at the Chicago River come St. Patrick’s Day: the Chicagoans dye it a hue akin to Nickelodeon slime, or some odd unappetizing flavor of Gatorade. Cities across the country also have large — and frankly awesome — parades, with many dressed as leprachauns, and everyone else dressed in green.
Christmas in Winter
There is perhaps no other holiday that is so closely aligned with the season it finds itself in than Christmas is with winter. Just think about how disappointing it is to have a Christmas Day without even a smattering of snow to play around in, or to imbue you with holiday spirit. The elves even make their toys in the North Pole, one of the coldest places you can think of! Then there is eggnog, Christmas presents, decorating the tree, and lighting up your house and tree with an assortment of colorful lights. Christmas really does have it all.
However, the best part about the iconic winter holiday is that it gives us a golden opportunity to provide joy to others in addition to ourselves. We get given gifts by loved ones (this is especially true as children), and are able to give gifts, in turn, to those we love. Seeing the expression on your kids’ faces when you get them something they both really wanted and maybe did not expect is second-to-none in my book. There is no greater joy than invoking joy in others.
Independence Day in July
Why not cap things off with the most American of all holidays, Independence Day. Better known as the 4th of July, Independence Day is the celebration of our signing the Declaration of Independence and throwing off the yoke of the British Empire. However, the holiday was first celebrated during the Revolutionary War, while we were still busy fighting the Brits alongside our French allies for control of the Thirteen Colonies. These days, Independence Day is celebrated with lavish fireworks displays, cold beverages, sleeveless shirts, and lawn chairs. Back in the 1700s, it was surprisingly also celebrated with fireworks and cold beverages, but with decidedly fewer lawn chairs and sleeveless shirts. You can’t have it all, I suppose.
