“Say something controversial”, do we hear you say? Well it’s worth offering a reminder that St. Paddy’s Day isn’t just about wearing a silly hat and making jokes about potatoes while drinking Guinness that’s been dyed green specially.

In fact, it’s the feast day of St. Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints and the man credited with driving snakes out of the country (which either refers to the slithery reptilian species or Pagans, depending on how susceptible you are to myth or metaphor respectively).

While it was ole St. Pat who introduced the symbol of the Shamrock (representing the Holy Trinity) to Ireland, the history of St. Patrick’s Day has proven to be a little less pious than the saint it celebrates.

Lenten rules of moderation are officially alleviated for the day, meaning it is widely seen as a one-shot opportunity to merrily binge before seeing through a dry period until Easter Sunday.

For more info on the curious culture of the day, check out:
http://www.yourirish.com/st-patricks-day.htm
http://www.the-irish-path.com/
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/index.html

Whether you’re at one of the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day destinations or just celebrating quietly close to home, it’s a fair bet that your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations will be defined by alcohol. So here’s 5 tips tips for both those who like a pint (or ten) and those who prefer to end the day still standing…

5 Things to Do if You’re Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day

1. Visit your local Irish Pub, eat Irish Stew and drink Guinness. What did God do on the 7th Day? He went down the Irish Pub, stupid. There’s nothing as wonderful as an Irish pub – its air thick with camaraderie, folk music and the smell of Guinness. Get yourself to an Irish Pub by noon on the 17th, start on the Irish coffee, move onto the Guinness, try a few Murphy’s, refresh yourself with another Irish coffee and end with half a bottle of Jameson’s. Quite simply, anything could happen.

2. Attend your local St. Patrick’s Day parade and dance a jig … St. Patrick’s Day parades take place across the world, and since you’re drinking/drunk, you can dance an Irish jig as the street performers parade past. For those who can’t get to a parade, you can always watch it online and dance away in the comfort of your bedroom…

3. Be stupid. Think of all those wonderful clichés about St. Patrick’s Day and then live them out! Wear green (and pinch anyone not doing so), paint Shamrocks on your face, grow a ginger leprechaun beard, shout ‘top of the morning to ya’ at anyone, and wear a T-Shirt that says ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’. (Ed: We take no responsibility for injuries incurred following such actions. If you want to find out what’s Irish and what’s not, take a look here).

4. Sing ‘Fairytale of New York’ over and over again. It doesn’t matter that it’s about a secular Christmas; Shane McGowan is an Irish hero… and a complete drunk. That’s excuse enough.

5. Drink dyed-green Guinness until your pee runs gangrenous. ‘Nuff said.

5 Things to Do if You’re Not Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day

1. Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. Since you’re not drinking, you have money for a trip! And where better to enjoy Ireland Day than in the capital, Dublin? Book a stay in one of the affordable hostels in Dublin, wake up early on Parade Day and claim a roadside spot. Then sit back and enjoy the fun.

2. Cook yourself ‘Traditional Irish Food’. After all, it is a feast day, and St. Patrick’s Day recipes are plentiful. So make yourself loaves of soda bread, a plateful of corned beef and cabbage, and a big pot of traditional Irish stew (Ed: Guinness is a vital ingredient in this one, but the alcohol burns off when cooking, right?). Don’t at any cost cave in to the temptation of adding green coloring – it’s just not Irish.

3. Look for a Fairy Ring and get your kid brother to sit in it dressed as a small green bearded elfin. Record the event in dingy light and sell it to a tabloid.

4. Promote the ‘Make St. Paddy’s Day a National Holiday’ cause. There’s a growing online campaign to make Ireland Day into a national holiday. Join the St. Patrick’s Day petition here, or lobby for the cause on the Facebook group here.

5. Congratulate yourself on a sober St. Paddy’s Day. You’ve done well, my child.

Do you have a better idea for things to do on St. Patrick’s Day, whether on the wagon or off? Send it in! We’ll give half a potato to the winner, recession permitting.  JC

St. Paddy’s Day celebrations take place across the world, with fun, fermented fervor, and a fair slice of frolicking always high on the bill. This is, quite simply, one of the major events in the calendar for any party-happy backpackers.

Hold you pints aloft, then, and let us make a toast… to the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day parties and parades…

1. Dublin, Ireland
Six days of music and performance culminate on the 17th of March with the legendary St. Patrick’s Day Parade through the streets of the Irish capital. Expect crowds, merriment and enough Guinness to drown a small colony of leprechauns.
Where to Drink: Temple Bar is the headlining drinking spot here. For a slightly more studenty vibe, O’Donoghues on Merrion Square is a worthwhile call. Otherwise, head north of the river and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day jokes with inebriated old men in one of the many ‘locals’.
Where to Stay: For central fun with hoards of backpackers, Kinlay House comes recommended. For something a little cozier, try Litton Lane.
For the lowdown on all the best Paddy’s Day parties, check out this great Dublin blog http://www.dublinblog.ie/tag/st-patricks-day/

2. Cork, Ireland

Slightly less hectic than Dublin’s parade, Cork’s St. Paddy’s Day is nonetheless an impressive spectacle which feature puppets, street artists and dancers aplenty. Head to Merchant Quay for the early afternoon and enjoy the swing of this cultural city.
Where to Drink: Try The Corner House or Sin E, both on Coburg Street
Where to Stay: Kinlay House Cork is again a good bet, as is Shelia’s of Cork.
http://www.corkstpatricksfestival.ie/ has the full events program and helpful info.

3. London, England
St. Patrick’s Day is always jumped upon with heady abandon here in London, a city where any event (and especially one that centers around booze) is happily used as an excuse for a great big party. The Parade is on the 15th this year, but the drinking is guaranteed to go on all weekend.
Where to Drink: Filthy McNasty’s in Clerkenwell, The Boogaloo in Highgate. Both are (albiet tenuously) connected to Shane McGowen.
Where to Stay: The Clink hostel will put you slap in the middle of town. For something smaller, try O’Callaghan’s, which is bound to be a source of drunken travelers.
http://www.irishinbritain.com/iib_cms/ is the place to look for all things Irish-related in London (and beyond).

4. New York, USA

Given its rich Irish heritage, it’s no wonder that New York goes slightly loopy during the St. Patrick’s Day party. Get to 5th Avenue early (as in, before 9am) and see the parade begin it’s historic journey. Then get drunk.
Where to Drink: Not on the streets. You’ll get arrested. Take a look here for the best Irish Pubs in the city.
Where to Stay: The LOFTSTEL hostels, especially the LOFTSTEL NYC: reasonably priced, impressively furnished.

5. Boston, USA
One of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world is held in Boston every year, with around a million people hitting the streets. The Boston St. Paddy’s Day celebrations are also known to be the USA’s eldest, dating back as far as 1731.
Where to Drink: To be honest, any of the pubs listed here will do nicely.
Where to Stay: HI Boston Downtown

6. Philadelphia, USA

Stuff kicks off on March 15th this year, with the theme ‘peace and prosperity’.
Where to Drink: The Dark Horse Pub between Pine Street and Lombard Street, or Fado on Locust Street.
Where to Stay: Apple Hostel is well situated and affordable, or the LOFTSTEL guys also have a place in town.
All the gossip you’ll need to know from the city’s Irish community can be found at http://www.irishphiladelphia.com/

7. Toronto, Canada
On 15th March, the Toronto parade begins at noon on St. George Street, finishing a few hours later on Queen Street.
Where to Drink: The large Irish Pub scene predictably kicks into gear come St. Paddy’s Day. Try Fionn MacCool in Downtown, or Dora Keogh (Danforth Avenue).
Where to Stay: Canadiana Backpackers Inn proves a hit with most.
http://www.topatrick.com/ is dedicated purely to the ins and outs of the day.

8. Sydney, Australia

The parade starts from the corner of George Street and Bathurst Street at noon.
Where to Drink: There are tons of good spots to choose from.
Where to Stay: Wake Up Hostel is a backpacker’s favorite; cheap and highly rated.
Check out http://www.stpatricksday.org.au/ for full details.

9. Auckland, New Zealand

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Paddy’s Day celebrations in the city. Expect week-long festivities leading up to the big day itself on the 17th.
Where to Drink: Enjoy a Guinness (or 10) in any one of these.
Where to Stay: City Lodge is one of the top rated hostels in Auckland.
http://www.stpatrick.co.nz/ has good info on both 2009 and past festivals.

10. Birmingham, England
A week of music performances and film screenings culminate with the parade, whose floats and participants will wind their way through Birmingham on the 15th.
Where to Drink: As this is England you’ll find plenty of small-time pubs throwing themselves into hardy St. Patrick’s Day; knees-ups are around most corners you turn! Waxy O’Connor’s on Broad Street is probably the signature joint in town, though.
Where to Stay: There are plenty of party-happy hostels in Birmingham. Take your pick, really. Just don’t expect a good night’s sleep!
You can find details of all the events, venues and parties at http://stpatricksbirmingham.blogspot.com/

Yet there’s a convincing argument to suggest this apparently most Christian of occasions finds its roots in the feared dealings of Paganism.

Keen not to upset the applecart too substantially on their conversion to Christianity, the Romans – so the story goes – decided to leave a few tactical remnants of Paganism lying around. One such remnant was the celebration of ‘Lupercalia’; a circus-like event during the month of February that was characterized by typically Roman decadence and Pagan abandonment.

But whatever its origins, Mardi Gras is now celebrated the world over, from Carnaval in Brazil to the German Fasching.

2009 sees “Fat Tuesday” fall on 24th February, although festivities commence days – if not weeks – beforehand. And if you’ve yet to book a Mardi Gras holiday, never fear, there’s still time…

Three Top Mardi Gras Destinations

Brazil

The Brazil Carnival period is, quite frankly, spectacular, with the Rio Carnival often known as ‘one of the best shows on Earth’.

For more info, see www.brazilcarnival.com which offers a good selection of info on the Brazil Carnival, www.belavista-rio.com/blog/, a well-maintained blog that includes an in-depth schedule, and also http://brazilcarnivaltravel.com/ and  http://www.gringo-rio.com/carnival-in-rio.html.

USA

The New Orleans Mardi Gras Carnival is the big one here, with community ‘krewes’ parading through the streets and tossing beads to those who are deemed worthy. Mobile also boasts an impressive (and slightly less touristy) celebration.

www.mardigrasneworleans.com includes a detailed parade schedule and www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/mardigras provides histories and routes of each Krewe.

Italy

There are two big carnivals in Italy: the Viareggio Carnival and the Venice Carnival. Traditionally, the first is known for its satirical floats, and the second for its Mardi Gras Masks.

For more info, head to http://www.venicecarnival.com/ for a straightforward overview or http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4 for video and photo archives.

Five Lesser Known Mardi Gras Celebrations

Aside from ‘The Big Three’, there are actually many other Mardi Gras carnivals held around the world, including
1) Nice Carnival in France
2) Carnaval de Dunkerque in Belgium
3) Spain Carnival (particularly the festivities in Tenerife and Cadiz)
4) The Germany Carnivals of Dusseldorf and Cologne, known as Fasching
5) Carnival of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean
For more on these, take a look at our top 10 carnival destinations.

Mardi Gras Carnival Tips – How to make the most of the festivities!

Accommodation. Firstly, book early! Right across the world from Brazil hostels to hostels in Italy, good, cheap places to stay get booked up quickly. Secondly, choose carefully! The choice of where to stay can prove crucial: if you want easy access to the parades and performances, book somewhere close to the action; if sleep is necessary to you, pick somewhere further out!

Getting Around. Avoid taking a car if possible. In New Orleans, parking is difficult and towing is a favorite hobby of the police. Taxis in Rio, meanwhile, charge visitors extortionate premiums during the carnival. The best bet wherever you are is to forget four wheels and walk; that way you experience the streets in all their teeming glory.

Finding a Spot. The first rule here is to turn up early. As with New Year’s Eve, Mardi Gras attracts a staggering amount of people onto the streets whether you’re in Viareggio or Trinidad & Tobago. So, if you want to see the parade, pack a lunch, take something to sit on, and claim your spot early on. Also, pee before leaving – finding a toilet once there is no fun at all…

Buying Tickets. Generally speaking, tickets are not needed unless you want to don a Mardi Gras Mask and go to a gala ball, in which case you have to be invited to get in anyway. The big exception, however, is in Rio, where seats at the Sambadrome are sold to the general public in advance of the carnival. These Mardi Gras tickets start at US$50, though they often go for about five times that amount on the black market once the box-office has sold out.

Making the Most of Mardi Gras. To make the most of Mardi Gras (wherever it may be) the key is definitely dressing up! 1) This means you really get into the swing of things, and 2) it means you don’t stand out as a foreigner quite so much. To get your ideas flowing, photos of Mardi Gras costumes and carnival masks can be found here and you can buy costumes online from www.mardigrascostumes.com.

Mardi Gras for Singles. If you’re traveling alone and are in town for carnival, the best bet is to hit the bar at your hostel and make a few friends. Online forums are also a good way of arranging to meet with others in a similar situation.

Staying Safe. As ever, when in a big crowd, staying sensible is key. Don’t wear valuable things, don’t carry wads of money, and don’t get too drunk. Since Mardi Gras is both a religious and somewhat sexually charged occasion, learning how to say ‘shame on you’ in the local lingo is a good way of repelling unwanted attention. There’s nothing like a bit of religious rhetoric to dampen the libido.

Mardi Gras Recipes and Traditions

Can’t get to Rio or Venice? Then celebrate Mardi Gras where you are! Try cooking a traditional Mardi Gras recipe such as pancakes, King Cake, or gumbo and then drink as many Mardi Gras cocktails as you can.

Then once the merriment is flowing, try some of these Mardi Gras traditions…
- Throw eggs and flour at each other.
- Throw water balloons at each other.
- Sing satirical songs.
- Flash your breasts in exchange for beads! (Check out http://www.beadwhore.com/mardi_gras.htm to find out more about this tradition in New Orleans. Don’t worry, the website is safe for work…)
- Bury a sardine in the ground. No joke; this is the custom of the Carnaval de Dunkerque, with the sardine representing the fat of Fat Tuesday. Its burial signifies the beginning of Ash Wednesday and therefore Lent.

Ed. – Have you been to Mardi Gras before? Tell us your best Mardi Gras memories, and send us your favorite photos! NB: Titillating ones will be appreciated but not necessarily reproduced…

A joyous expression of life (and a handy excuse to get in some heavy partying before the abstinence of Lent), the color and vigor of Mardi Gras graces some of the top travel destinations across the world.

Which, all in all, makes it a pretty handy event to plan your next trip around….

Here’s a quick rundown of the top 10 Mardi Gras Carnival destinations…

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Probably the best carnival in the world, the Rio Carnaval began as far back as the 17th Century. Then a predominantly bourgeois activity, it revolved around balls and masquerades; today it’s a free-for-all partyfest featuring songs, satirical shows,and more samba than you can shake both your shoes at.
Things to do at the Rio Carnival:
1) Get into the swing of things by dressing up and really making an effort.
2) Find a ticket to a Carnival Ball.
3) Go to the Samba School Parade in the Sambadrome (slightly pricey, but worth it – you won’t see this spectacle anywhere else in the world).
4) Find yourself a bed in one of the Rio de Janeiro hostels and carry on the revelry with fellow travelers even after the street parties die down!

2. New Orleans, USA

With 500,000 spectators, and nearly as many participants, the New Orleans Mardi Gras festival is quite rightly renowned the world over. Krewes from communities across the city parade through the streets during the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, dancing, singing and tossing ‘throws’ (typically beads on a string) to the jubilant crowds.
Things to do at the New Orleans Mardi Gras festival:
1) Eat King Cake and hopefully find that elusive bean.
2) Catch the Mardi Gras parade itself on Shrove Tuesday.
3) Flash your baps for beads. (Ed. – Apologies to females and feminists everywhere, but it’s true that nudity is an integral part of the fun…).
4) Head back to your New Orleans hostels for a few quiet hours before the wonderful music of New Orleans kicks in once again.

3. Venice and Viareggio, Italy

Visually, the Carnival of Venice is one of the most recognizable events in the world today. Locals and visitors don the signature leather or papier-mache masks and equally ornate gowns, and then head to a masquerades or gala ball.
For the average backpacker, however, the Viareggio Carnival is probably a safer bet in terms of money. And it’s no less impressive, with huge floats decorated to satirize popular figures paraded through the streets. In fact, the Viareggio Carnival has become so popular a small city has sprung up to the north of Viareggio, just for the float and mask makers!
Things to do at the Venice and Viareggio Carnivals:
1) Don a mask.
2) Watch the parade.
3) Beg, borrow or steal your way to a Gala Ball ticket.
4) Book hostels in Venice to escape the city’s famously extortionate prices – and save enough to wheedle your way into one of those balls.

4. Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean

A hedonistic month-long carnival season in Trinidad & Tobago culminates with three days of jubilant parading prior to Ash Wednesday in Port of Spain. Soca and calypso sounds run riot over the city during the Trinidad carnival, as does the local rum, which is strong to say the least…

5. Binche, Belgium

During the 3 ‘fatty’ days leading up to Ask Wednesday, the Carnival of Binche sees the town’s inhabitants grace the streets in heavy disguise while parade after parade passes by. Characters to watch out for include the ‘Gilles’, who throw blood oranges to lucky bystanders, and the ‘Blancs-Moussis’, who thwack less fortunate spectators around the head with a pig’s bladder!

6. Nice, France

On the face of things, the Nice Mardi Gras Carnival is a pleasant affair, with flower-covered floats gracing the streets by day, and light displays illuminating buildings by night. History tells another story, however; the Nice Carnival was once so rampantly indulgent that even the scorn of the almighty Church failed to quell its drive.

7. Dusseldorf and Cologne, Germany

Carnival season (or ‘Fasching’) in Germany actually begins on 11th November. Low key ceremonies rumble on henceforth for months, until they explode into action during the week before Ash Wednesday. A particular (and idiosyncratic) highlight is Women’s Carnival Night, where women are supposedly permitted to cut off men’s ties and kiss whoever they want…

8. Cadiz and Tenerife, Spain

Given its Catholic heritage and love for a fiesta, carnival in Spain is unsurprisingly a pretty awesome event. Ostensibly, the main draw of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the themed costumes and music-led parades. Scratch at the surface, however, and you realize it’s all just a big excuse to meet your friends and drink on the streets!
The party spirit is just as strong in the Cadiz Carnival. Everyone dresses up in a costume that relates to the year’s main events, and revelers then take their cue from the groups of choirs who parade through Cadiz’s streets singing highly witty satirical songs.

9. Cowes, England

Shrovetide (the period before Lent) in England is generally a sober (and pretty dull compared to the rest of the world) affair, during which people are supposed to confess their sins and not commit any more. That’s not to say carnivals in England are non-existent, it’s just that, like the famous Notting Hill Carnival and the infinitely charming Cowes Carnival, they come later in the year – when English weather is more favorable.

10. A Central American Extravaganza…

If none of the above take your fancy, how about heading to Mexico, where effigies representing ill-humor are burnt on top of great pyres? Then, once your ill-humor has dissipated, make the short hop down to Ecuador and throw water balloons at all and sundry!

And there you have it – outrageous parties in every corner of the world. Whoever said that February was a dull month…? JC

The Canadian province is currently holding the annual Winter Carnival, which is the largest in the world… Lasting 17 days in total – and running from 30th January - it’s a great way to embrace the freezing weather!

Dating back to the inhabitants of New France, the event has a rich history of winter celebration and is held at a series of locations throughout Old Quebec. Pop on your scarf and mittens and head out to cheer Bonhomme, a giant snowman (think Frosty minus the carrot) who acts as ambassador of the carnival festivities.

Top highlights include the Bonhomme Night Parade, which kicks off two weeks of concerts, competitions, snow baths, snow sculptures, ice skating and dog sledding through the cobblestone streets.

Featuring acrobats and fireworks against a fairytale-like winter backdrop, the opening ceremony is always particularly spectacular. Grab a poutine (a traditional Canadian mountain of French fries, topped with cheese curds and smothered in brown gravy) take away and enjoy the show.
Even if you weren’t a fan of winter before, a day (or even a week) at Quebec’s Winter Carnival will certainly change your mind!

But if you’re still not enamored with the Canadian cold, take a stroll through the charming city streets for amazing views from the cliff tops over the St. Lawrence River. Quebec is certainly picturesque; the city walls and historic district were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

When the snow gets a bit too much, seek refuge (and a chance to warm up) browsing the souvenirs and novelty gifts (how about a Bonhomme t-shirt?) in the Carnival Boutique or head for a relaxed brunch of more traditional Canadian grub – this time pancakes and bacon.

Think this is snow in England? You ain’t seen nothing yet… TZ