The Reason Soda Bread Is Traditionally Eaten On St. Patrick's Day

Forget that pot of gold — the real treasure on St. Patrick's Day is a fresh loaf of soda bread. Whether you're Irish by blood or just by beer choice (the iconically Irish Guinness is actually America's favorite beer!), you're probably pairing your corned beef and cabbage with Irish soda bread on March 17.

Why is this humble bread such a big deal on St. Patrick's Day? Turns out, soda bread has deep roots in Irish history, dating back to the 1800s. During times of scarcity, rural Irish families needed an affordable, easy-to-make bread that didn't require fancy ingredients like yeast or labor-intensive techniques. Enter baking soda, which, when mixed with buttermilk, acts as a quick and reliable leavening agent. This meant the Irish could whip up fresh bread daily without yeast, hence why soda bread is considered one of the types of quick bread.

Interestingly, soda bread may not have actually been an entirely Irish invention. Native Americans were the first to use a natural form of baking soda to leaven bread, and, when baking soda became widely available in the 19th century, the Irish made it their own, perfecting the simple four-ingredient recipe we know today (salt, baking soda, flour, and milk).

So, why do we still eat it on St. Patrick's Day? Besides its deep historical ties, soda bread is a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness, two things the Irish are known for. Plus, it's delicious and perfect for soaking up every last bit of your St. Paddy's Day feast!

Of course, soda bread isn't the only food that typically makes an appearance on the St. Patrick's Day dinner table. Corned beef and cabbage is a staple plate in Irish-American households, though you may wonder what people in Ireland eat on St. Patrick's Day. Not-so-surprising spoiler alert: It's heavy on the potatoes. In Ireland, you're more likely to find households serving hearty lamb stew or colcannon, which is a rich, buttery mash of potatoes and cabbage. Shepherd's pie, with its layers of savory meat and creamy mashed potatoes, is another beloved dish, perfect for warming up on a chilly March evening.

The Irish aren't a people who forget about dessert either. On St. Patrick's Day, that big, hearty meal is often followed up with Irish apple cake, usually served with fresh whipped cream. Even Guinness is popularly featured in sweet treats like chocolate cake. You could also get creative and make a traditional Irish soda bread pudding or Irish soda bread cookies. Truthfully, if your soda bread is loaded up with dried fruits and nuts, and if you make it a bit less traditional with sugar and eggs, it's sweet enough to count as a dessert of its own! So, slather some good Irish butter on a slice of soda bread, crack open a pint, and say cheers to good ole Saint Patrick!