Countries in Asia Know How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Too

It might not be the first places you think of- but countries in Asia have some pretty incredible St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Although, there is not a high Irish population throughout Asia, on St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish right? The holiday isn’t big everywhere in Asia but there are a few places that really get into the spirit of things and would be a great place to spend the holiday if you’re ever around the area in March!

Seoul, South Korea

It is a fairly recent addition to the list of Korean festivals, but since 2001 the Irish Association of Korea has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with an annual parade that hosts up to 15,000 attendees. It is complete with everything you would expect for a St. Patty’s Day bagpipes, Irish dancing, Celtic music, lots of green, and of course lots of beer! The Koreans love any excuse for a good party!

Tokyo, Japan

This may come as a surprise to you, but the Japanese have celebrated and embraced Irish culture for quite some time, and this includes- of course- St. Patrick’s Day. Each year, Tokyo hosts an amazing parade bringing 30,000 people to the streets to celebrate and several thousand parade participants. And like in Seoul, lots of green, music, food, and alcohol can be expected!

Singapore

Due to it’s strong associations with the British Isles, Singapore also has a connection to Irish heritage and with it, St. Patrick’s Day. In addition to a spectacular parade, Singapore also hosts an annual St. Patrick’s Day Ball. The celebrations stretch over a three day period. First begins the ball on the eve before the big day. Then on the 17th, the streets fill with

green for the parade. And the fun continues on the 18th with street parties outside of local Irish pubs and Irish Festivals.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In previous years, Kuala Lumpur has had parties and festivals that have reached over 8,000 attendees. But Malaysia is making our list because of their public determination to host Asia’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, even making an online pledge to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. And they take it one step further, wanting to make not just the 17th the day of celebrations- but all of March!

Lupita Nyong’o Blows Us Away with Her Powerful Words about Beauty and Being a Woman

Just days before her amazing win at the Oscars for her performance in “12 Years a Slave”, she accepted another award for the “Best Breakthrough Performance” at the annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon.

Her double dose of wins would have been impressive no matter who it was but did we mention this was her first movie? So we can already admire her for her talent but after the speech she delivered at the Luncheon I admire a whole lot more about her than just her acting skills. The speech was moving, inspirational, and a little heartbreaking all at the same time- and something every little girl needs to hear. In the United States, March is Women’s Month and Lupita Nyong’o is an example of a woman who definitely deserves to be celebrated. She is an excellent role model for young girls everywhere and her touching words reveal the beauty, power, and strength that all women are capable of. 

Watch Lupita Nyong’o's Incredible Speech here:

How Japan Celebrates Girls' Day

Excitement is growing throughout Japan in anticipation of one of the nation’s biggest holiday traditions, Girls’ Day. The millennia old celebration, also referred to as Hinamatsuri or the Doll Festival, takes place every year on March 3rd. With all the history and tradition behind this special day comes just as many customs and celebrations. 

One of the oldest, and most important, customs that comes each year with the arrival of March 3rd is the displaying of dolls, a practice that began during the Heian period. The dolls can start to be seen being displayed throughout Japanese homes around mid-February and remain that way until the day of the festival has arrived. It is then customary for many people to participate in an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi, one of the original practices of Girls’ Day. During hina-nagashi people place straw dolls into a boat and cast the boat out to sea, believing the dolls carry the bad spirits away with them. 

The more exquisite dolls do not get put in the boats- sometimes these dolls are passed down through generations- instead they get taken down and put away after the celebrations have come to an end. Although they are put on display in February, it is important that the dolls are taken down no later than March 4th, or it is believed the daughter of the family will get married late. 

And what kind of Asian holiday would be complete without food and drinks? On Girls’ Day customary food makes its way into the celebrations. Traditional foods consumed on this day include hina-arare, crackers flavored with either soy sauce or sugar (which one depends on the region) as well as colored rice cakes, or hishimochi. Chirashizushi, sushi rice flavored with sugar and vinegar then topped with raw fish among other various ingredients, is also a holiday favorite. And for girls seeking a united and peaceful relationship, it is suggested that they consume ushiojiru, a soup, that contains clams still in their shells because a pair of clam shells can fit perfectly together- but only with the original pair. 

In addition to traditional foods, Girls’ Day also brings to the table a customary beverage, shirozake, a Japanese sake made from fermented rice. 

Girls' Day is one of the best ways to get a peek into ancient Japanese culture and tradition passed down through generations of families, so if you ever plan on visiting Japan- be sure to add this holiday to your Japanese experience! 

To learn more about the cultural and diversity taught at Fujimini Island, please click here.

Saint Patrick's Day- Is It Really Just For the Irish?

Even though St. Patrick's day is known as the holiday for the Irish, Ireland isn't the only cool place to be this March 17th. Much to one's surprise, serval different countries in Asia know how to kick up their heels and celebrate Irish history. 

A lot of green can be seen throughout Seoul, South Korea on this day. St. Patrick's day has been celebrated by the Irish Association of Korea since 2001. Since this place just loves an excuse to party, St. Patrick's day is no exception. Parades throughout the city have attendance numbers around 15,000 people- so if you're there you can expect plenty of folk dancing, singing, bands, and of course plenty of beer. 

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Plenty of St. Patrick's day celebrations make it to Singapore as well. Due to the large connection to British isles they also have a St. Patrick's Society. One of the most looked forward to events of the year is the annual St. Patrick's Day Ball, held on March 16th followed by the St. Patrick's Day Parade. People in Singapore really know how to keep a party going, even continuing the holiday celebrations through the 18th! On the 18th the parades and ball combine to form one giant street party, gathering outside the local Irish pubs. 

The cultural festivities have even spread to Tokyo, Japan- who has embraced the Celtic holiday for many years now. This year over 30,000 are expected to gather in the streets along with beer and green as far as the eye can see! 

To learn more about the cultural and diversity taught at Fujimini Island, please click here.