What is there to do between Carnival and the beginning of summer/winter, you might wonder! Although March is greatly under-appreciated and is often considered an in-between month in which nothing exciting happens, it does have a lot of great holidays in store for you. Our communities around the world take every opportunity to have a good time, from celebrating the patron saint of Ireland to commemorating International Women’s Day.
Going Green!
St. Patrick’s Day is not just the most typical Irish holiday but also one of the most widely celebrated ones. When Irish people moved abroad, they took this day with them and established it in their new home, making it THE holiday for Irish expats, people of Irish ancestry and their friends. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is not just celebrated in Ireland but also in Canada, the USA, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and many other countries around the world.
InterNations Nairobi hosted a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Party on Wednesday, 15 March 2017. They met at the Emerald Garden to celebrate with their Irish friends and just have an exciting evening together. Of course, the dress code for this event was a touch of green.
On Thursday, 16 March 2017, our members in Raleigh celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with the best local liquor Chapel Hill has to offer as well as some delicious sweet potato fries. The guests got to relax over a game of pool and, of course, everyone was asked to wear green for this special occasion.
On the same day, our community in Quito celebrated an Irish night with friends. After a speed networking session to break the ice, everyone mingled and enjoyed the atmosphere of the Irish pub. On top of that, the person with the best Irish outfit or accessory won a prize.
InterNations Luxembourg also awarded a prize to the attendee with the greenest outfit. At their St. Patrick’s Day special, members got to enjoy green beer and international music while celebrating this very Irish holiday.
On Saturday, 18 March 2017, our community in Goiania had their St. Patrick’s Day party. They celebrated the patron saint of Ireland with great food, beer, and all things green. Hopefully, nobody got pinched!
You haven’t had the opportunity to celebrate your Irish friends, yet? Don’t worry! We have a few more St. Patrick’s Day events in the pipeline for you.
The InterNations community in Los Angeles is hosting a belated St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, 24 March 2017. Although this event takes place at a Vietnamese restaurant, the delicious food and the great signature drinks of the venue make it the perfect place to celebrate the luck of the Irish.
On Thursday, 30 March 2017, our members in Omaha are getting a taste of Ireland. The venue is a typical pub with lots of traditional meals on their menu, including fish and chips, as well as Irish stew. Put on your favorite green attire and come out for a belated St. Patrick’s Day dinner with other expats and global minds.
Our community in Dar es Salaam is celebrating at an Irish pub as well. On Friday, 31 March 2017, you have a chance to win a prize for the best green costume while spending time with your favorite global minds. Don’t let the leprechaun pinch you!
Celebrate the Women in Your Life
International Women’s Day takes place each year on 8 March. It is the day on which we honor the amazing women in our life and our communities but also a day to fight for equal rights for all women around the globe.
InterNations Mumbai celebrated Women’s Day on Sunday, 5 March 2017, giving its members a head start. The event was exclusively hosted by two women: Cara, the Consul of the American Group and long-term member Yulia. With a live jazz band, flowers for every woman, and a raffle with lovely gifts, this event was the perfect opportunity for a night out with your favorite gal pals.
The International Women’s Day Party in Houston took place on Wednesday, 8 March 2017, at the Rosemont Club. The rooftop bar which is well-known for its seasonal cocktails and delicious snacks was the perfect environment to get to know all the great women of the community.
The Bologna Mindfulness and Life in Balance Group hosted an activity which was all about the words of women of the world. Attendees were asked to share lessons they have learned and advice they would like to give with other women in the group to help and empower each other.
The Unusual and the Unexpected
This is not all, of course! We have a few stray Carnival events that took place at the beginning of the month, plus some more unusual holidays.
Our community in Lagos, for instance, celebrated Mardi Gras on Saturday, 4 March 2017. Expats and global minds partied New Orleans style with masks and beads. The colors of the day were green, purple and gold and the bar tender served some concoctions worthy of a full-blown Mardi Gras.
On Friday, 10 March 2017, it was also Carnival time in Luanda. Members of this community met at a local restaurant to dance and mingle. Between dancing and chatting, some new friendships were forged and our members had an all-around great time.
The Bangalore Outdoors Groups celebrated Holi on Sunday, 12 March. The Hindu festival is a day-long celebration of color and joy. The group had a great time spending this special day in Bangalore.
Our community in Madagascar is celebrating the Night of Happiness on Wednesday, 29 March 2017. The goal is to spread joy and get people to look at the bright side of life. Happiness really is contagious, so let’s share some good vibes!
On Friday, 31 March 2017, Johannesburg celebrates Fools’ Day Eve with a big glamorous party. Forget playing silly pranks on your friends! This is your opportunity to dress up and hit the dance floor. Let’s paint the town red together!
Whether you dressed in green or are preparing for International Day of Happiness, we want to know what you are celebrating this month. Share it with us in the comments!
