Missoula, Montana is one of a kind and so are the citizens. Outsiders don’t understand us and to be a true Missoulian is a title that must be earned. Students from The University of Montana compiled a list of instances only true Missoulians understand. To be considered a true Missoulian is a privilege, not a right.

1. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the only reason you grow a beard is to protect your face from freezing wind. -Alexander Fuehrer

2. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the features of your Subaru include a “Keep Missoula Weird” bumper sticker, a cracked windshield, and a year round ski rack and/or bike rack. -Larke Stuart

3. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you think Birkenstocks are real shoes. -Christopher Clark

4. You know you’re a true Missoulian when your own “short cuts” don’t really save you time. -Katrina Thorness

5. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you use the M as your point of direction instead of North. -Ryan Watson

6. You know you’re a true Missoulian when some off your friends (not dropping names) know the happy hour schedule better than their own class schedule. -Connor Campbell

7. You know you’re a true Missoulian when all your glassware consists of mason jars! -Miranda Fox

8. You know you’re a true Missoulian when grown ups hula hooping in public to hippie music becomes a social norm. -Elizabeth McGee

9. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you have out of control road rage when it takes you more than 15 minutes to get from one end of Missoula to the other. -Kristina Carlino

10. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you start drinking and enjoying Kombucha. -Kelsi Laraway

11. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the word “republican” becomes more like profanity than a political affiliation. -Katherine Vincent

12. You know you’re a true Missoulian when almost being run over by a biker no longer bothers you. -Becca Mulhill

13. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you realize for the first time in your life you’re excited to wake up at a reasonable time on a Saturday to go buy fresh vegetables at the Farmers Market. -Scott Young

14. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you can’t tell a homeless person apart from someone who is actually trendy. -Rebecca Strellnauer

15. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the saying, “my dog is my copilot” is taken quite literally. -Josh Rhines

Photo Credit: Josh Rhines

16. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you defend the logic behind Missoula’s public roadways. -Bailey Chauner

17. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you sunbathe while there are still big piles of snow in the ground. -Jessie Mazur

18. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you experience a lockdown, snow day, and falling boulders in only one month. -Bailey Chauner

19. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you and your buddies recite A River Runs Through It quotes when you’re fishing on the Blackfoot. -Connor Campbell

20. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the sign of spring is the slack liners setting up shop in the trees. -Scott Young

21. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the stocks dance-floor is a nightmare for you or friends’ past -Connor Campbell

Credit: Personal Photo…no I’m not totally ashamed

22. You know you’re a true Missoulian when every item in your closet matches and can go together in every season. -Elizabeth McGee

23. You know you’re a true Missoulian when it seems normal for a man in deer pelts to yodel and play the accordion. -Spencer Sheehan

24. You know you’re a true Missoulian when you will wait in a line of 30 people at Big Dipper…in the middle of winter. -Josh Rhines

25. You know you’re a true Missoulian when the idea of more than one freeway scares you. -Scott Young

Photo Credit

It’s only natural that a holiday that has become centered on drinking and celebrating would be the best day of the year for a college student. Here’s why:

1. There is ALWAYS a party

Let’s face it: If you’re a college student, partying is one of your top priorities.
Who even comes to college for “learning” anyway? Sadly, this behavior is not socially acceptable 364 day out of the year but guess what…

EVERYONE PARTIES ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY
It’s the one of those days where it’s perfectly acceptable to make questionable decisions and flake on responsibilities.

**DISCLAIMER: Unbelievab.ly is not responsible for your actions on St. Patrick’s Day and is not “directly” encouraging bad behavior

2. Copious Amounts of Alcohol

Especially Green Beer. But seriously green beer is delicious.

So delicious in fact that my dad left the hospital the day I was born (St. Patty’s day baby right here) and went to drink green beer at the local bar.
Some would say that his priorities were messed up, but as a St. Patrick’s Day fan- girl I applaud this action whole-heartily.

Also, whoever did this has more alcohol than a liquor store

3. Shamrocks

Shamrocks are the symbol of Ireland! YAY!
Also for some unfortunate reason, shamrocks have recently made the list of “Most Typical Girl Tattoos”, only ranking behind anchors, sappy quotes, and dream catchers.

Find a shamrock with four-leaves? LUCKY YOU. But seriously, four leaf clovers are supposedly lucky.

4. The Abundant Amount of Gingers to Make Fun of

Did you know? There are probably the same amount of the Red-heads at a St. Patrick’s Day celebration as there are at the International Redhead Festival in the Netherlands (This festival is real, check it out here).

This fact alone is a good enough reason to celebrate! And gingers don’t have souls so there’s that…

Note: Gingers are great people and they probably do have souls

5. The EPIC costumes and accessories

From shot glass necklaces to “Kiss me I’m Irish” shirts, you can get decked out in green gear for St. Patty’s.
The possibilities are endless!
Make a trip to the Target dollar section…or to Wal-Mart, where thanks to labor sweatshops (kidding…maybe) the entire store is basically a dollar section.

#brokecollegestudentslovestpattysday

6. St Patty’s Parade Faces

The faces parade goers make are always priceless, especially when you have applied a liberal amount of green paint to your face.
St. Patty’s day parades are not for the weak stomached and most will be an unforgettable (okay slightly forgettable) day.

Little ol’ Butte, Montana even makes the cut for boisterous parades, and believe me this event is anything but little.

7. Pinch an Inch, Smile a Mile

You know that annoying kid in class that asks too many questions?
Guess what! Pinching them for not wearing green is the perfect (and seemingly innocent) form of payback.
Or you can be like me and pinch someone even when they are wearing green… just play dumb.

But please, don’t be an idiot and forget to wear green yourself.

8. Leprechauns and Pots O’ Gold

These little red-headed tricksters are adorable, and if you don’t think so go look at a Lucky Charms box (look I provided a picture of one).
Does it even really matter that they are secretly greedy and deceiving? No! You would be too if after ever rainbow someone was trying to steal your gold.

Honestly though, he’s so cute.

Whatever you decide to do for St. Patty’s Day remember:

1. Everyone is Irish on St. Patty’s Day
2. Don’t forget to wear green
3. Pace yourself, or else you’ll end up like this guy…

Enjoy the best holiday of the year!

*Each photo linked to source