Colors of Dublin - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The local residents are very proud of their culture and have great respect for travelers who are interested in local traditions and customs. The cultural traditions of Dublin are the result of mix of different cultures. The indigenous people keep following the traditions of their ancestors even these days and do this with pride. The images of Celtic harp and St. Patrick's shamrock are considered the national symbols. They can be seen on many souvenirs and traditional costumes of the locals.

There is even a national color in Dublin - green. During various holidays and festivals the streets of the city are full of cheerful companies of locals dressed in green T-shirts and wearing hats of unusual shapes. Celebratory items of bright green color are sold in numerous stalls, so guests of the city always have an opportunity to purchase a nice costume and go to a holiday celebrations together with townspeople.

The locals are distinguished by welcoming and friendly attitude to visitors. They are very trusting and hospitable. A local proverb saying "A stranger is a friend who you are to meet" describes the nature of the local people in the best way. Tourists should not be afraid to ask citizens for help. They will certainly tell visitors how to get to main places of interest, and will answer all of your questions. During the time of holidays the border between local residents and visitors is erased at all. In Dublin every foreigner will feel like a welcome guest. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

National peculiarities have made their impact on such important areas of life as culinary traditions. In addition to unique treats the local restaurants and pubs serve the most favorite national drink - beer, the production of which has taken place there more than for a hundreds of years. There are many restaurants and cafes in Dublin, but locals prefer to visit pubs as they simply adore the atmosphere of home-like comfort and hospitality. However, the city has a strict ban on smoking in public places. It will be quite difficult to find a restaurant that has special rooms for smokers in Dublin. Visitors should not forget to comply with applicable regulations and local traditions. This way your rest in the city will be comfortable and interesting.

Colorful celebrations in honor of Saint Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland, have become popular around the world. The holiday has long become an international one. Without a doubt, the biggest celebration still takes place in the capital of the Emerald Isle. In Dublin, the celebration usually starts on March 17th and lasts three days. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine this celebration without a fancy-dress parade with the dominating green color, traditional Irish songs, and Ceili dancing. Naturally, the celebration continues at local pubs. It has become a good tradition to wear something green on that day and enjoy the holiday together with Irish people. By the way, it may sound strange but the Irish diaspora in New York started the tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

The motherland of many famous writers, including James Joyce, is the location of one more interesting event, namely, Bloomsday Festival. The event traditionally takes place in the middle of June. During the festival, visitors can see actors perform sketches from the most famous work of the writer, Ulysses. The locations of these small performances are scattered around the city and include cafes, theaters, bars, and restaurants. This is the time when Victorian epoch returns to the city, so prepare to see many people dressed in that style. If you have a Victorian style outfit, don’t hesitate to put in on and participate in the wonderful event. Besides that, there are music concerts on the main streets of the city. In the evening, people gather in pubs mentioned in the novel in order to drink a glass of Guinness in honor of their outstanding fellow countryman.

At the end of April, the motherland of Bono hosts Siansa, a contest festival for solo performers and bands playing folk music. The fabulous event takes place in the National Concert Hall. Winners are awarded a monetary prize and an opportunity to sign a contract with a famous recording company. Forbidden Fruit is one more music event that takes place in the home city of Bernard Shaw at the beginning of June. The event takes place in a truly historical place – in Royal Hospital Kilmainham Park. As it is not hard to guess, this is an open-air festival. The event is truly a multidimensional one, so prepare to listen to different music genres – indie, electronic music, folk, and underground. Numerous after parties are a true cherry on top (taking into consideration the fruity name of the festival). They usually take place in various clubs and bars of the capital of Ireland.

At the beginning of August, many try to visit the Dublin Horse Show. There is nothing strange in that, taking into consideration the size of the event. The statistic speaks for itself: 1,400 gracious horses, 130 various events, and the total prize of 500,000 euro. There is nothing strange that the event is visited by approximately a million visitors. RDS Main Arena is usually chosen as the scene for the horse shows. Visitors can choose from such entertainments as racing, show jumping, and haute ecole. Besides shows with horses, visitors are welcome to listen to quality music, attend theatrical plays, and watch street circus performances. There is a contest for true ladies during the festival. The winner of the Ladies’ Day (the best bonnet contest) receives the voucher for 10,000 euro. Children will never feel bored as there is a special entertainment program for them.

Dublin also hosts one more festival to honor a talented writer, whose work has become legendary. This is Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. The event takes place at the end of October and lasts three days. The date is not random as it falls to Samhain, an old holiday that is, in some way, a predecessor of Halloween. At this time, the motherland of Jonathan Swift becomes the most gothic city in the region, which is filled with ghosts, zombies, vampires, witches, and mages. Besides theatrical performances and parades, visitors will be happy to listen to music concerts and performances of gothic bands, attend film screenings, and have fun at numerous thematic parties and after parties.

Whiskey, one more symbol of Ireland, also has a holiday dedicated to it. It takes place at the end of November. Called Whiskey Live, this unforgettable holiday is usually located in Dublin Castle. Needless to say, this event is a wonderful opportunity to sample the best whiskey in Ireland and choose the one that tastes perfect. Certainly, the event is not deprived of sampling snacks and appetizers for the Winston Churchill’s beloved drink. Interesting master classes have also become an essential part of the schedule. The atmosphere of Whiskey Live is one more advantage of the festival. It is an incredibly charming and friendly place that makes even total strangers think that they have known people around them for many years.