St. Patrick’s Day One of the first spring holidays that party-givers seize upon as an excuse for entertaining is St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. It is a fine, meaningful date on which to have a few friends in for supper, a Shamrock Chowder Supper planned to satisfy the hungry, tickle their ears with Irish tunes, and end the evening with reels, jigs, or more modern versions of the dance.
Invitations can be given in person, by telephone, or mailed out about ten days ahead of the party date. It will be in harmony with the homeland of the saint if you use cards or notepaper decorated with bright green edge or a small shamrock or a Paddy hat and pipe.
Decoration of your table depends on the degree of formality you prefer. In store displays of paper tablecloths and napkins there are green ones and also white paper cloths decorated with shamrocks and other Irish emblems, in sizes to use on the buffet table as well as on small tables around the room. Paper decorations and favors in Irish green, such as small clay pipes, Paddy pigs, and jaunting cars, are plentiful at novelty, stationery, and five-and-ten cent stores. So are large Paddy hats for guests to wear. By mail order, the Dennison Party Bazaar, 411 Fifth Avenue, New York 16, New York, can supply all, including note paper for the invitations.
A large green Paddy hat makes an amusing centerpiece for the paper-decorated buffet table. Place a bowl or vase inside the hat and fill it with green carnations. If your florist can supply tiny pots of fresh shamrock, as most of them can around this holiday, use these as favors. Tie green ribbon around the pots, attach green-edged place cards to the ribbons and set them on the small tables to show guests where you want them seated.
For a more formal table use a green glass flower holder or bowl centerpiece and fill it with green leaves and white carnations. Use green glass accessories, such as candy and nut dishes, salt cellars, and water goblets; a cloth of white linen, organdy, or lace, and large bold green linen napkins, or a green linen cloth and large napkins of white and green striped linen. Silver, pottery, or crystal candlesticks with tall green and white candles add sparkle to the table with either the paper decorations or the more formal linen cloth. Green and white china gives another fitting touch.