# Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 17, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394 "2017-03-17T12:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/41 "2017-03-18T05:51:04Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > A poll will follow. > > 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.) Mostly a reason to drink after a long hot sticky uncomfortable summer. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/42 "2017-03-18T10:17:23Z")
There’s an Irish pub very near my house that has a huge St Pat’s day party every year, and I’ll often go if for no other reason than to catch up with old friends I haven’t seen in awhile. It’s a good time. But I’m out of town this year, and had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants with some friends-- I forgot it was St Pat’s until the waitress said “in addition to our specials, we do have corned beef and cabbage, if you’re interested”. I had the seared Ahi, and it was wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/43 "2017-03-18T12:40:25Z")
I should mention, I guess, that the St. Patrick’s activities I participate in aren’t as geared to the stereotypes as most. They start with a mass, if I’m off work (not often any more; for some reason March 17 tends to be a busy day for substitute teachers), and while there is a lot of drinking at the afternoon party, it’s of actual Irish beers, not Budweiser with green food dye. There are the cheap plastic leprechaun hats available, but nobody actually wears them but children, and the entertainment is things like an Irish dance troupe and a pipe-and-drum band. And yes, we serve corned beef, but also boxty, bangers, and soda bread. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/44 "2017-03-18T13:10:47Z")
Oi, so I’m just hung over enough this morning to feel Irish. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/45 "2017-03-18T13:31:07Z")
Quoting my “before” post for context: > [@LSLGuy](#): > > … > 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). Here’s the “after”. A fine party was had by all. We had 60ish folks, waay more CB&C than we could eat plus lots of homemade hors d’oerves and green desserts. One advantage of hanging out with older women is they actually know how to cook the good stuff. My stout went down well along with a hefty dose of somebody’s Bushmills. I also collected lots of old lady kisses. Some of whom aren’t all that old :). The best part was that like all our parties, it started at 6:00 and was done by 8:30. So no hangovers or short night’s sleep for me. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/46 "2017-03-18T22:37:11Z")
Did so as a kid, but less so as an adult. Though “celebrating” just means the ritual about wearing green. It’s like April Fool’s Day–totally fun. I assume the same with adults who celebrate by going drinking with green or other vaguely Irish themed stuff. Well, except for Irish people who seem to treat it like an Irish Heritage Day with parades and such. They probably consider it more important. The adult version seems like Cinco de Mayo. I wish it also had some fun ritual for kids, rather than just drinking/partying. That would’ve been fun, too. This year, I did not bother wearing green. It is the day after my birthday, and a Friday, which is an easier day to do birthday stuff. I don’t really have any green clothing handy, so I just didn’t bother. Oh, and I don’t drink, for a whole host of reasons (mental illness, family history, medications, cultural upbringing, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/47 "2017-03-18T22:38:10Z")
Nope, not my religion. Most of my traceable ancestors were Irish but I don’t know that they benefited from this man’s traveling evangelism in any way. When I was a kid I was taught in school that he chased all the snakes from Ireland so I thought he must have been pretty cool. That being a lie there was no good reason for me to celebrate his life at all. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/48 "2017-03-18T22:42:48Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > My old roommate always wore orange on SPD. I have an orange pair of the same green shoes I wore inadvertently. Would wearing one orange and one green next year bring peace or strife? It’s these if that matters. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cd/b6/02/cdb602d9944a29b218c173c078fc245e.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cd/b6/02/cdb602d9944a29b218c173c078fc245e.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/49 "2017-03-19T02:10:01Z")
I never liked corned beef until my ex-wife cooked hers. It’s fantastic. Of course since she’s the ex I don’t get that any more. Don’t really do St Patrick’s Day and this year I was working. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/50 "2017-03-19T02:38:34Z")
It’s an excuse to make corned beef and maybe buy some soda bread. That’s about it, but it’s nice enough to have a little holiday to enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/51 "2017-03-19T03:21:34Z")
Saint Patrick is the patron of my mom’s people. Most of us, myself included, have Patrick or Patricia in our names. Great Granda was from Cork, so yes, even as a heathen, I celebrate. Yesterday, I popped into the little Thai bar around the corner from home and got a green draft beer and cabbage in the formr of an eggroll. There are enough people from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam who were educated RC that they are familiar with the legends and those with food and alcohol related businesses incorporate it once in the US. St. Patrick is also a patron of immigrants, so that is a possible second reason. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/52 "2017-03-19T15:29:40Z")
It’s our anniversary, so yes, we celebrate. I made corned beef and cabbage in the crock and a loaf of soda bread. My husband’s family is Irish and I’m half Irish, half Italian. Saturday we went out for Italian food. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/53 "2017-03-19T17:58:07Z")
I stopped off after work for some food. I ate and left. It’s hard to watch adults deliberately get hammered. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/54 "2017-03-19T18:55:32Z")
I’m Irish American. We celebrated at home from my earliest memory as a child. I still do. That doesn’t mean going out and slamming back a couple pitchers of green food colored cheap American macro-brew while wearing some tacky t-shirt, hat, beads, etc… I’ve never been to any of the big city parades. A good meal, preferably authentic, with a Guinness or some Jameson’s is my usual standard. Somewhere shortly before or after the holiday I’ll work a book on Irish history into the reading list. Sadly I’m not near anything like the small Irish pubs I had the benefit to live near for a long time. The ability to get food other than corned beef and cabbage was missed. I had to muddle through with some corned beef and a taste of the Jameson’s. I double dipped and drank Guinness Friday night while watching the Michigan State - Go Green! I completely forgot the book this year till just now. :smack: Looks like I need to pick what comes next. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/55 "2017-03-19T22:38:18Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > There’s a dispensation lifting the Lenten Friday abstinence today so I will be taking advantage of that and making a corned beef sandwich. > > I always wear khakis and a black shirt so I wasn’t even thinking about myself as I saw toherts wearing green today. Then I looked down and realized I had thrown on the green shoes I had out from wearing them yesterday. So I guess I inadvertantly observed the wearing of the green. :smack: :eek: You’re a Black-and-Tan? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/56 "2017-03-20T01:42:12Z")
One of my grandmothers was actually born a Patrick. I think Saint Paddy’s day is a lot like Elvis impersonators – something fun to take part in if you feel like it but no biggie if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/57 "2017-03-20T15:50:32Z")
It was fun in grade school but, unless you are someone whose idea of fun is drinking so much alcohol that you puke and pass out (or vice versa), after that it became sort of irrelevant. And I’m 1/4 Irish. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/58 "2017-03-20T16:22:51Z")
Yes. And I’m not even Irish. Almost even rewatched Leprechaun in the Hood. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/59 "2017-03-20T18:10:17Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > :eek: You’re a Black-and-Tan? Does that mean anything besides Guinness and lighter beer? The only thing I know about those is don’t try to go one for one black and tans with a friend who drinks heartily. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394/60 "2017-03-27T20:47:58Z")
> **[Black and Tans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tans)** > > The Black and Tans (Irish: Dúchrónaigh) were constables recruited into the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) as reinforcements during the Irish War of Independence. Recruitment began in Great Britain in January 1920 and about 10,000 men enlisted during the conflict. The vast majority were unemployed former British soldiers from Britain who had fought in the First World War. Some sources count a small number of Irishmen as 'Black and Tans'. > The British administration in Ireland promoted the idea... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-celebrate-st-patricks-day/782394.md?page=4)