Bottoms Up for Good Luck

While St. Patrick’s Day is a bigger celebration in the United States than it is in Ireland, every red-blooded American loves an excuse to enjoy good food and good times with friends. Nowadays, dressing up in costumes clad in greens and golds with shamrocks and leprechauns have added a more festive flair to the longstanding tradition, which was first celebrated in Boston in 1737.

Contrary to popular belief, the Celtic harp is the national emblem of Ireland, but the shamrock is deeply rooted in Irish culture and even its Catholic heritage. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to help the pagan Druid High Priests and their followers comprehend the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit—All-in-one Almighty God.

And what of green beer? That’s believed to have stemmed from a custom called “drowning the shamrock.” Following parades and special events, men would hit the local pubs, drop a shamrock into their whiskey and drink it down, including the good luck leaf.

Bottoms Up for Good Luck

Of course, we’re all about health, so here are two natural methods for coloring your beer green. It’s recommended that you use a lightly-colored beer of your choice.

Wheatgrass

Fresh or powdered wheatgrass juice is chock full of minerals and vitamins. For a 16 ounce pint of beer, add 1 tablespoon of wheat grass juice to the glass, pour in the beer and stir.

Spirulina

This blue-green algae has more antioxidant power than chocolate and may be the most nutrient-dense food in the world. Some say it’s a little sushi-seaweed like, others clamor over it. For a 16 ounce pint of beer, add 1/2 tablespoon of spirulina to the glass, pour in the beer and stir.

Shredded Green Cabbage Salad with Lemon and Garlic