Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This holiday originally came as an observance of the death of St. Patrick himself. Through the years, though, it has become a celebration of Irish culture. For many, this has meant wearing green, going to parades, drinking green beverages, going to a pub, and/or eating Irish food. This year, in particular, things are a bit difference. With people trying to stay home and not get out too much due to health concerns, Disney+ suddenly becomes a great option for a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
For me personally, St. Patrick’s Day has always been a special day. The Irish roots run deep in my family. My grandparents were even married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1955! The day always includes a special meal and a celebration of not just my grandparents, but also the legacy of the family and the Irish roots. As a child, this was more of a game. As I’ve grown older and learned about our family history, I realized that the fun and games had a whole lot more behind them than I realized as a kid.
Now we move to 2020 and people are being urged to stay home. Thankfully, we have something called Disney+ that offers a way to celebrate a little bit of Ireland from the comfort of our own homes. There are a couple of things to check out today on Disney+ if you are looking for some programming that fits the St. Patrick’s Day Theme.
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
Darby O’Gill and the Little People is the quintessential Disney film for St. Patrick’s Day. It takes place in Ireland (obviously). It has leprechauns. It has magic. It has music. Most of all, it is a lot of fun.
In the film, Darby O’Gill finds himself desperate for hope after being forcibly retired and replaced by a much younger man. After asking his boss to not tell his daughter, he searches for a way out… with magic. This is where he finds himself facing off against a leprechaun. Not just any leprechaun though, the kind of the leprechauns! To make his wishes come true, Darby O’ Gill must match wits with King Brian of the leprechauns. Of course, things don’t go as planned and Darby O’ Gill goes on an unexpected journey… all to avoid telling his daughter he had been retired.
This is a film that definitely has its flaws but it also is just an enjoyable one to watch. It also has a young Sean Connery on it. Connery would go on to originate the character of James Bond on the big screen. This is one that is a classic and has that wonderful old live-action Disney feel.
The Luck of the Irish
Wanting something a little younger than Darby O’ Gill and the Little People? Then instead take a look at The Luck of the Irish. This is a 2001 Disney Channel original movie. In it, a popular high school student discovers that his heritage isn’t what he expected. After his parents refuses to tell him what their heritage really is, strange things begin to happen and his true Irish heritage is revealed. Kyle learns that all the good luck in his life really wasn’t by accident. His mother is a leprechaun. And as things get even stranger, Kyle finds himself turning into one as well! Kyle soon finds himself trying to get back a stolen magical coin that enabled his family to not look like humans.
The Luck of the Irish is like many Disney Channel original movies. It’s fun and it’s a bit hokey, but it is worth watching. This is especially true on St. Patrick’s Day!
St. Patrick’s Day can be a fun day to break out the green clothes, make a green drink, eat some themed foods, and enjoy an Irish movie on Disney+. If it were me and I only had one film to choose from of these two, I’d probably go with Darby O’Gill and the Little People. That is mainly though because I grew up with it and it reminds me of my family heritage. For many others, they love The Luck of the Irish!
How do you like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Do you celebrate it at all? Share your favorite way to celebrate this celebration of all that is Irish in the comments below! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
