I love holidays! Where there is a holiday, there is an excuse for food. It doesn’t matter what the occasion, there is always something to cook up to celebrate. Historically, food has been an important part of celebrations all over the world.

Part of the fun of cooking and baking is being able to explore different cultures and regions through the food you make — which is a large part of the mission of our parent organization Oldways. Which brings us to our next holiday on the calendar – St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated for over 1,000 years, and originated as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland.  Celebrated on March 17th, it is the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death in the fifth century. The first parade held to honor the day was held in 1762 in New York City, which still remains the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States. Here in Boston, we hold the second largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States, held this year on Sunday, March 15th.

Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. To celebrate in the traditional Irish fashion, many feast on iconic Irish dishes. To kick my St. Patrick’s Day into gear, I’m preparing some whole grain Irish treats! It just so happens that much Irish fare is already made with great whole grains, so there is no need to make alterations to these delicious items! Check out the recipes linked below to get some whole grain ideas for your own St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or comment below to share your favorites that I missed. (Harley)

Irish Oatmeal

Donegal Oatcakes

Irish Brown Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Potato Bread