Being Irish is a blessing and a curse. The pale skin, freckles, hot-headed family members, and the tales of "back in the day" could be looked at as the negative side being Irish. Listening to Irish tunes, dancing around, having a family that loves you endlessly, and being proud of where you come from is the way we see it. Coming from an Irish family is so special because you know you come from a traditional background and have family members who worked hard to be where they are. You know you have people in your life that will have your back, whether you're right or wrong. If you come from an Irish family, you'll know what I'm talking about...

1. You have family members that are still in Ireland, whether distant or your immediate family.

Family members that live on land and own donkeys...

2. When you were a kid, your family members gave you a number of plaid and green clothing.

Yikes!

3. You have a kilt in your closet that you’ve had since you were a kid.

4. You own at least one piece of jewelry with a Celtic knot, i.e. earrings, necklace, bracelet.

5. If you’re a girl, you own a claddagh ring.

6. You have at least one redheaded family member.

And you don’t think of them as a ginger, you think of them as a person. Because you’re Irish and that’s just how it is.

7. One of your family members, if not you, was an Irish step dancer at one point.

8. You know what the Gaelic language is.

So you probably know what "Póg Mo Thóin" means.

9. Or you at least know what “Erin Go Bragh” means.

10. You understand British comedies.

11. Your family has BBC News on the TV at least once during the day.

12. Your face gets red when you laugh, get embarrassed, get sad, happy, or excited. Basically all the time.

13. You have a big family that teases you endlessly.

14. Your immediate reaction to an (even slight) injustice done to a loved one is “gonna find that geezer and punch them in the face.”

15. You have family members that tell you all about the “olden days in Ireland.”

16. You’re so used to the Irish accent that you begin to adopt it as soon as you’re around your family.

17. Your family knows how to toss back a drink.

Especially your uncles...

18. You’re never too afraid to break out in a little song, dance, or jig. But you need a sip of your drink first.

19. You have uncanny talent for vocal mimicry.

20. You watch the Celtic Women every time they are on a paid programming TV show.

And you prefer the OG Celtic Women group.

21. You can’t help but love the sound of the bagpipes.

22. You're more than used to hearing "you're really pale."

I know. I'm gonna burn to a crisp if I walk outside. I get it.

23. St. Patrick’s Day only makes you mad because of all the non-Irish ignoramuses.