Ornament Review: St. Patty's Day? - Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long #8 - 2014 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Lesser done character in a great ornament

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Patty leads the way

To celebrate Irish day

Lots of fun I say

Sorry, Peppermint Patty, but the Day is for Someone Else

Since the Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long series is highlighting holidays for the monthly ornaments as much as possible, it makes sense that the March ornament would be based on St. Patrick’s Day.  But when I saw the ornament, I was double impressed.  St Patty's Day? is easily a favorite in the series.

The ornament features, who else, Peppermint Patty.  Instead of her trademark clothes, she’s decked out in green, including a traditional Irish green hat.  Her right hand is over her heart and in her left hand she’s holding a four leaf clover.  She’s smiling and clearly proud to be celebrating something.

I’m a pun guy who famously says there is no such thing as a bad pun, so part of the appeal of this ornament is the pun that forms the basis - Patrick to Patty.  Get it?  Get it?  Not only that, but I can totally see Peppermint Patty thinking the day is all about her. Frankly, I think that smile on her face is from thinking just that.  And then poor Marci would have to explain what the day is really all about, not that Peppermint Patty would listen or get it.

Adding to the fun is that Peppermint Patty is a very rare Peanuts character to find in ornament form.  Yes, she is out there, but she’s not as plentiful as Linus, Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy.

There is a nice flat surface of green grass (with a few more clovers hidden in there) Peppermint Patty is standing on that helps form a solid base for the ornament.  As such, you can set her out anywhere as you decorate for St. Patrick’s Day.  You'll also find the series marker on the bottom of the base.

Wonder of wonders, the loop in the top of her head is facing the right direction so you can hang her from the stand that Hallmark sold separately to compliment the series.  That makes two ornaments in a row that were done correctly.  Maybe they’ve figured it out.  Anyway, when you hang her, Peppermint Patty hangs forward a little, although her backed is arched such that she still looks good.

Speaking of the stand, the background for this one is perfect.  It’s got a rainbow leading to a pot of gold in the middle of a grassy field.  It screams Ireland and Irish to me, which is exactly what they were going for.

So whether you have Irish roots or just want to celebrate the day, St Patty's Day? is a great way to decorate for March.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Happiness is Peanuts All Year Long series.

Original Price: $12.95