March 17th is right around the corner, and you know what that means. Most people will be ringing in St. Patrick’s Day with parades and music, not to mention pinching those poor souls who forgot to bring out their best green t-shirts. But if all your green clothing is in the washer and you don’t have a backyard full of four-leaf clovers, don’t worry. There are other ways to prove your luck. In fact, why not take a nerdy twist on the luckiest holiday and make one of these activities a new tradition?
Blind Boxes
One of the easiest and most fun ways to test out your luck is to open up blind boxes. These mini-mysteries are perfect for collectors and one-off buyers alike. The best part is you can find blind boxes in virtually any theme, or fandom for that matter, imaginable. There’s something for everyone, from Pokemon figurines to Dungeons & Dragons pins. Popular companies like Funko and Pop Mart are always a safe bet for figurine options as well.
Short Story Contests
If you’re willing to put in a little more work to celebrate this year, why not enter a short story contest? Competitions are a great way to get the creative juices flowing and get out of a writing slump even. Some writing contests have themes, while others allow contestants to let the story lead them. A plus point is that many are available for no entry fee. Check out Reedsy and Poets & Writers to find up-to-date lists of contests and awards for this year.
One free competition to support, or enter if you’re reading this from across the pond, has unique ties to St. Patrick’s Day. Hosted by The Saint Patrick Centre, the Maureen Donnelly Memorial Writing Competition gives a poem and an essay prompt relating to the cultural significance of Ireland’s Patron Saint. The contest is available to students in Northern Ireland and offers cash prizes. Even if you can’t enter, you may want to check out last year’s winner. Check out Reedsy and Poets & Writers to find up-to-date lists of contests and awards for this year.
Nerdy Trivia
Are you really a nerd if you don’t take any chance to talk about your favorite fandoms? If that sounds like you, trivia would be the perfect activity. Luckily, trivia is easy to play from the comfort of your own home. Find online trivia quizzes or create your own questions. Topics can be lore-related, production-related, or whatever you prefer. You could also choose to play with other nerdy subjects like science and history.
If you feel like getting out of the house, many bars host trivia nights. Some even do holiday themed events. Or even better, set up a St. Patrick’s-themed trivia game at your holiday party and test your knowledge of all things Irish.
Blind Date With a Book
Similar to blind boxes, blind dates with books are fun ways to surprise yourself this holiday, with the bonus of pushing you out of your reading comfort zone. Head to your nearest bookstore and look for a section of gift-wrapped books. They usually feature notes from staff with hints about the genre and general plot of the story to help you choose one you’re bound to enjoy. Some libraries have even taken to offering gift-wrapped books to check out so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a book you hate.
Loot Boxes
Loot boxes are like virtual blind boxes for gamers. They can be purchased with out-of-game currency or found through normal gameplay. Players can get anything from customization options for their characters to materials and equipment used to progress in the game. Maybe it’s not a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but the excitement of discovering your special prize is still worth it.
St. Patrick’s Themed D&D Adventure
DnD one-shots are ways to have fun outside of existing campaigns, and holidays are the perfect time to start up a new adventure. Get together a group of friends and have a St. Patrick’s Day special adventure. You might choose to create your own one-shot or find one online to use with your group. Take advantage of the holiday theme by embodying creatures from traditional Irish folklore and mythology. If you need some inspiration, check out this group’s one-shot on YouTube.
Giveaways
Enter a giveaway to have a chance at winning merch and goods you may not have got your hands on otherwise. Some bigger companies will occasionally hold giveaways that fans can enter. On the flip side, fans themselves often hold giveaways. The best bet for finding giveaways you’re interested in is to follow fandom creators. They often post giveaway announcements on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Keep an eye out and you never know what new items you might be adding to your collection.
Themed Board Games
If you’re trying to find a fun family-friendly activity, board games are always a great option. To get into the holiday spirit, try out a St. Patrick’s-themed board game or one with a story inspired by Ireland. Check out this list from BoardGameGeek for Irish-themed game recommendations. For those interested in learning a bit about Irish culture, another option is to play more traditional Irish games. Examples include Brandubh and Rings.
Movie Bingo
Last but not least, try spicing up a boring old bingo game with a cinephile twist. You can play bingo based on general genres like this one with superhero movie tropes or play alongside specific movies. Whenever something listed on a bingo space happens in the movie, mark that space. Whoever gets bingo first wins. This can be a hilarious way to notice movie tropes and, if you create you own card, to test how well you know your movies. Movie bingo is fun for the whole family but you can also turn it into a drinking game for an adult-only group — with caution of course.
