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Although one would be hard pressed to guess it by the frigid and damp Shanghai air of late, Spring is on the horizon. Green will soon adorn the fertile grounds of the city and warm sunlight radiate down. Aiding in the verdification of the Oriental Pearl City will be St. Patrick’s Day, which will arrive this March 17^th. Despite its obvious foreignness, the Shanghainese have welcomed the luck of the Irish with gusto and activities have been planned accordingly. Although one shouldn’t expect to see the Huangpu River dyed green anytime soon, celebrating the Patron Saint of Eyre provides the perfect opportunity to don a bit of green, pinch your neighbor, and have some fun. Here are a few ideas of how to make this St. Patrick’s Day a very fun and Irish one in Shanghai:

1. Fei Le Shanghai– Hosted by the Irish Consul General (March 10-17)

• The Irish Consulate will host a number of great program in conjunction with St. Patrick’s festivities, including musical performances, an art exhibition and a family carnival

2. O’Malley’s Irish Week ( March 11-18)

• Hosted by the Shanghai’s premiere nexus for Irish-themed railery, the week will include food and drink specials, door prizes and drawings, and great live music. With 40 RMB Bailey’s cacktails and 25 RMB green beer all week and a Sunday Brunch prepared by award-winning chef Fred Cuemin, O’Malley’s is sure to provide for a memorable St. Patrick’s Day. O’Malley’s is also hosting a Spring Kid’s Bazaar March 7^th, offering red-hot deals from a number of great boutiques

3. The Blarney Stone

• For a quintessentially Irish experience in Shanghai, it is impossible to beat  The Blarney Stone. Owned by Dublin native Paul Curran, the quaint orange house at 5 Dongping Lu offers as authentic of a St. Patty’s experience as one can get in Shanghai, replete with plenty of Guinness, Kilkenny’s, Bailey’s and live music for Bungle Rye

4. Drunken Dragon Pub Crawl

• Kicking off at the aforementioned O’Malley’s Pub at 9:30, Pub Crawl will take you on a St. Patty’s Tour de Force, visiting four of Shanghai’s hottest clubs, with shots at each venue and expedited entrance guaranteed to make your evening a bit more interesting. Snack’s and welcome drinks at O’Malley’s are included.

5. Mural

• If you’re looking to get out and dance a little, Mural will host a special St. Patrick’s Day Party with a live band and specials on green beer and other Irish favorites. Don’t forget to wear green!

6. Irish Embassy in Beijing

• For those venturing up to Beijing in March, the Irish embassy will be hosting a grand Irish extravaganza from March 3rd through 18th, with activities ranging from musical and dance ensembles to book fairs to an Irish language corner. For those looking to take in the essence of St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture, this festival is a must-see.

For those looking to circumvent the crowded bars and celebrate St. Patty’s in a more intimate setting, options abound as well. Yangjiu.com has an excellent selection of spirits (including Guinness, Kilkenny’s and Whisky), all reasonably-priced and available for delivery to your door in time for the celebration. You may also check out The Irishman’s Pub at Thumb Plaza in Century Park, which provides an authentic and somewhat less raucous Irish pub experience. Other non Irish-themed venues are sure to have drink specials and the occasional river dancing.

Although the holiday has grown to be a global celebration of all things Irish, with clovers, green accoutrements, and copious quantities of booze all  de rigueur, the holiday’s beginnings are far more humble (and pious). It’s namesake is Patricius, an Romano-British missionary credited with introducing Christianity to Ireland in the Fifth Century. After being captured and  enslaved by Irish raiders, Patrick escaped and returned to Ireland in 432, using a clover to explain the Trinity to his Irish converts. Patrick was named the Patron Saint of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day Feast  was first celebrated in the Ninth Century. In 1903 had became an official public holiday in Ireland. Since then, the holiday has grown in popularity throughout the world as a showcase of Irish culture and heritage, a development the Irish government has actively promoted.

Despite the color green’s ubiquitous association with St. Patrick today, the original color for the holiday was actually blue. St. Patrick’s Blue is still commonly used in fabrics in Ireland. It was not until the 1798 Rebellion, when wearing a St. Patrick’s clover signified support for the uprising, that green became associated with the holiday. Since then, green clothing, green beer, and green rivers have all become elements of the celebration. Boston is credited with pioneering the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, holding its first one in 1737. Following Ireland’s independence in 1924, the holiday has been inextricably interlinked with Irish cultural pride and has taken on a life of its own. It also now boasts a rich repertoire of sporting events, including the All Ireland Football Club championships and St. Patrick’s Day Test between Ireland and the USA.

With such an esteemed tradition, why not make Saturday, March 17^th a special one? Facilitated by China’s ability to attract ambitious people from all over the world, the number of ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s in China is unprecedented. For those new to the experience, have a look, as the holiday offers a great look into Irish culture and pride, along with some good old-fashioned bonhomie. Although the special hasn’t  made it to China, McDonald’s is even offering a green minty-flavored Shamrock Shake in Ireland, the US, and Canada. And remember, this March 17^th, “圣帕特里克节快乐！ (Shèng pà tè lǐ kè jié kuàilè) Happy St. Patrick’s Day!