A poll will follow.
I’m not sure why so many people tend to celebrate this day. Heck, I’ve seen Vietnamese colleagues wearing green on March 17th, which is somewhat wonderful, but I don’t get it myself.
I think it’s mostly a reason to drink after a long cold lonely winter. (I don’t know what the reason would be in the southern hemisphere though.)
Anyway, and perhaps because I was born in Scotland, I have never really considered celebrating on St. Patrick’s day. What about the rest of you?
It’s seems a largely American thing to me.
In the UK, it’s mainly an excuse for pubs to sell more Guinness.
I have Irish ancestors (maternal grandfather was from County Clare). I dislike the whole “Reinforcin’ o’ the Stereotypes” and amateur binge drinking that the holiday has devolved into.
I’m Irish. We don’t need an excuse to get drunk and belligerent.
How are you defining “celebrate”?
F’rinstance, if you just wear something green, does that count? Do you have to pinch people who aren’t wearing green?
If you go out drinking, does that count? Even if you would have done so anyway?
Not really. I don’t have any Irish ancestry or connection to the culture. I am going to my mom’s for corned beef tonight but that’s almost more Polish culture: She bought it because it was cheap on sale 
No green clothes or shamrocks or plastic leprechaun hats or Guinness or anything.
I dunno. Define celebrate as you wish.
What’s this pinching thing? I’ve never heard of that.
We’re in the US but my wife is from Ireland and we have a party every year. We’re having four other families over for dinner tonight. We’ll have Irish bangers, mashed potatoes, black and white puddings, and brown bread. Corned beef and cabbage is traditional in the US but nobody eats that in Ireland.
That’s pretty much it. If you’re not wearing green on St Patrick’s day, you might get pinched, or threatened with a pinch. It’s meant to be playful, not mean; I’ve never seen an adult follow through with the threat, but I don’t do anything for the holiday, so it could be common. I haven’t celebrated since childhood and I only did then because the teachers usually had a St. Patrick’s day activity planned.
As a non-Irish American this is certainly my take on how the “holiday” is celebrated in this country.
Having said that, Americans (and their marketing departments) have adopted any excuse for a party. Cinco de Mayo has been gaining fast on St. Pats as the latest excuse to eat & drink to excess while wearing a silly hat after having bought $100 of silly disposable themed decorations. And Cinco, like Pats, is at best a minor holiday in the home country.
As to me personally …
In years past I tended to ignore it completely. I’ve no blue-nose, but neither am I much of a binge drinker since college lo those many years ago.
These days my building is on the “one party per month even if we have to manufacture an excuse” program. Which parties we usually attend. So tonight will be corned beef & cabbage with about 50 of my mostly convivial neighbors.
I bought some Murphy’s stout at Trader Joes and will struggle to locate a greenish shirt (not my color at all) lest one of the little old ladies decide to pinch my rump for fun (hers).
Yes! Absolutely! That is if you consider eating corned beef celebrating. I may go out for a drink, falling on a Friday this year makes that more likely.
no, not at all.
I may wear a green shirt or sweater if I remember.
I voted Yes! Absolutely! because I’m wearing green and will eat corned beef and cabbage today. Maybe even listen to a Wolfe Tones CD. Any excuse to have corned beef and cabbage works for me because my SO doesn’t care for it much, and we wouldn’t have it if not for St. Paddy’s day.
But no party hats, green beer, or binge drinking.
I mostly ignore it, but I am actually cooking a Guinness beef stew in the crockpot this very moment.
I voted “Yes” based on the fact I’ll be going out drinking.
Additionally, I celebrate St Practice Day every year as a way of gearing up. Oi!
I’m part Irish, and at least as proud of that part of my lineage as the others.
Never went in for the phony shamrock n’ leprechaun crap. If other part-Irishers ask why I’m not wearing green, I tell them “I’m Irish every day.” I might make an effort to wear a tweed jacket or vest or cap, or something else I bought in Ireland.
We do most holidays simply by observing the food traditions. I happen to like corned beef, so I might make that along with some colcannon (potatoes mashed with onions or leeks, cabbage, and other greens).
Corned beef is definitely Irish-American, though. In Ireland you’re more likely to get served Irish bacon (cut from the shoulder of the pig rather than the belly), along with creamed cabbage and a couple of boiled potatoes. And a glass of stout.
Same here, but Slovak not Polish!
My SIL and nieces are Irish so they do some stuff but nothing too elaborate. I’m sure they’re dressed in green today and stuff.
I voted No, not really. I’ll make a couple jokes with the fam about putting green clothes on our cat and staying away from the bars (we live in NYC which is Drunken Idiot Central) and maybe get a chuckle from the radio or TV coverage but that’s about it.
I went sometimes but really I’m more an “every-lite”. No funny hats, fake accents, green suits or that kind of stuff but I always like to have some more traditional Irish food and listen to some of their folk music. One of my aunts married into a shanty-Irish family and little bits and pieces just spread out among the whole clan.
Sure. Just like the Irish do.