As local bars were packed, so were classrooms.

It’s no secret that Oakland University isn’t the world’s craziest party school when it comes to holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, and it sure doesn’t liven up the scene when it falls on a school day.

Those who weren’t stuck in class for St. Patrick’s Day, however, had a chance to cover themselves in green and celebrate the old Irish holiday.

“I celebrated the holiday by going to an Irish bar in the area with my family, only because I fortunately didn’t have class that day,” senior Chantel Lohmann said. “We all had a really good time.”

Classes or not, many were too tired to celebrate and decided to take it easy.

“I had a night class so I couldn’t really go out,” Steve Thibault said. “I celebrated by eating a bowl of lucky charms.”

“I had class until three,” senior Mike Kepler said. “I fought traffic and went to sleep when I got home, so it wasn’t really a cool night.”

Others had both a chance to make money and get into the spirit at the same time.

“I worked at Main Street in Rochester for St. Patrick’s Day,” senior Elizabeth Gretkierewicz said. “The place was busy all day and I even got to wear a cute beer maid costume.”

How to cure the aftermath of green beer:

• Eat light and stay hydrated; greasy foods do not help and will only give you heartburn.
• Alka-Seltzer works wonders!
• Stay away from your morning coffee — it doesn’t really help and dehydrates you.
• Rest as much as possible.
• Cure it before you have it: Alternate between your drinks and water when you’re out at the bar.

Did you know?

• The color of St. Patrick was originally blue, not green.
• Since 1962 Chicago has been celebrating by dumping green dye into the river.
• In traditional Irish folktales, there are no female leprechauns.
• One of the more popular myths on St. Patrick is that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland — definitely a good reason to be loved and celebrated!
• Traditional foods to eat on this holiday are corned beef and cabbage, yum.
• Three is Ireland’s lucky number, and the three leaves on the shamrock are supposed to bring good luck.
• About 13 million pints of Guinness are sold every St. Patrick’s Day.
• St. Patrick was actually born in Britain.
• The Holiday is celebrated on March 17 because it’s the day St. Patrick died.
• St. Patrick’s Day used to be a dry holiday and all pubs were closed in Ireland.

Read about these facts and more here, here and here.