Shine OnSt. Patrick’s Day has Canadians preemptively web searching ‘hangover cure’
St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday notorious for green beer and Guinness – and turns out, increasing numbers of Canadians are planning ahead by searching online for the perfect hangover cure.
According to a press release, more people search for hangover cures in the week leading up to St. Patrick’s Day than any other holiday, including Canada Day and New Year’s Eve.
And, with St. Patty’s falling on a Sunday this year, even more people are wondering how they can still make it to work for Monday morning without a pounding headache.
Compared to last year, when the holiday fell on a Saturday, searches for “hangover cure” have increased by more than 300 per cent.
If you’re planning on knocking back several pints of Guinness this Sunday, here are some helpful hangover cures:
Have a snack. According to the Mayo Clinic, bland foods such as toast and crackers can help settle an upset stomach. Also, foods and drinks that contain fructose can help your body burn off alcohol faster. And in terms of prevention, prepare yourself for a night of drinking by loading up on fatty, carb-heavy foods before you hit the town.
Hydrate with water all night long. Sure, it’s hard to remember to drink water when you’re sipping on a cocktail, but try to. A hangover is all about dehydration, so gulp down plenty of water to rehydrate while you're drinking. Try to aim for a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume.
Take an aspirin before bed. Pop a couple of pain relievers before hitting the hay. Just remember not to take Tylenol, as it can damage your liver when combined with alcohol.
Sleep as much as you can. Time heals all wounds, including a hangover. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic recommend sleeping off a hangover, so if you’ve got the time, hit the snooze button.
Most of all, know your limits. Everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, so it’s important to know when you need to stop.
Other interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day:
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador don’t need to search for the best hangover cure. It’s the only province where St. Patrick’s Day is a recognized, paid holiday.
Since St. Patty’s Day is traditionally a Catholic holiday, many cities exclude the LGBT community, as well as single moms and other politically-motivated groups (like pro-life groups) from parades. Major metropolitan areas including New York City and Boston still bar openly gay people from taking part in St. Patrick’s Day parades. The ban on these groups has sparked numerous protests. Last year, hundreds of people gathered to protest against New York City’s parade.
Many Irish Canadians choose not to celebrate the holiday. A new survey commissioned by Ancestry.ca reveals that 60 per cent of Irish Canadians won’t be drinking green beer or toasting to the Emerald Isle. The same survey reveals that 60 per cent of Irish Canadians don’t think that St. Patrick’s Day fairly or accurately depicts Irish culture.
Beer is notoriously linked to St. Patty’s, but Canadians don’t necessarily want to drink it. Online search behavior suggests a dramatic preference for whisky over Irish beer. Searches for “whiskey” outpace searches for “Guinness” by 130 per cent.
Montreal, Quebec has the longest-running St. Patrick’s Day parade in Canada. A parade has been held every year since 1824, but the holiday has been celebrated in the city as far back as 1759 by Irish soldiers.
