Going Green in the March Toward Spring

If the month of March was a color, no doubt it would be a shade of green.

Lawns browned by the harshness of winter begin to take on a spring-like hue. Bulb flowers start poking through the ground. And of course, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with all things green this month.

You don’t have to hail from Ireland to feel Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Share the luck of the Irish with friends and family with these unique gift ideas that represent the true craftsmanship of the Emerald Isle. 

This authentic walking stick bears the same name as the town traditionally known as the source of its origin centuries ago—Shillelagh. Available only from Hammacher Schlemmer, the shillelagh is made in County Wicklow from blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), selected for its superior weight-to-hardness ratio. Each stick is harvested from specimens of the stout wood in remote areas of County Wicklow, Cork, and Kerry. No two sticks are identical, so each one made is truly a unique gift. 

Perfect for staying warm while curled up with a good book, this lady’s reading shawl is made in County Kildare, Ireland. The shawl’s front panels feature traditional wide patch pockets, useful for tucking away a paperback or e-reader. Its enveloping design covers the full back, chest and upper arms, leaving hands free to turn pages. Knit from soft merino wool, the shawl is made by a firm whose roots can be traced back to Kate O’Shea, the first Irishwoman to commercially sell her hand-knit garments in 1856. 

You may want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a genteel nip of Irish whiskey. These glasses were designed specifically for tasting whiskey and have a thick, sturdy base that complements the depth of whiskey, thin sides that allow you to clearly see the liquid’s color and a tapered mouth that accentuates aromas. Recognized as the best glasses for tasting, they are used by every whiskey company in Ireland and Scotland for sampling their product.

In the U.S., we’ve made St. Patrick’s Day our own, with parades, parties and corned beef and cabbage dinners. In Chicago, they even goose up the green by dying the river an emerald hue. Enjoy the greening up of everything during the early weeks of spring, and Erin Go Bragh!

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