I celebrate Evacuation Day. Show those Brits what-for!
I knew an Irishman in Bangkok who was almost a walking stereotype. (Although to his credit, ha hated people saying, “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya,” insisting no one in Ireland ever said it.) Watching him go on drunken benders, it was very easy to believe that’s where the term “paddy wagon” came from.
I’m a quarter Irish and love drinking with friends, so technically, yes. If an opportunity presents itself, I will get shitfaced on St Patrick’s Day.
Sadly, not being an alcoholic unable to control his drinking, I find that as I get older, adult responsibilities impair my ability to enjoy St Patrick’s Day.
My family is very Irish (all four grandparents were born in Ireland), and when I was a kid in New York, St. Patrick’s Day was a huge deal. We always went to the parade, and I always had relatives marching in it.
But over time, the parade became a horrible spectacle. I stopped going because I hated wading through broken glass and urine.
I moved to Texas in 1986, and barely pay attention to the holiday now. I still love Irish music, but play it year round.
Bloody Irish immigrants, refusing to assimilate into American culture, I dunno…
Seriously though: I’m not Irish or of Irish descent and I don’t celebrate any other saints’ days so why bother? (I do like Guinness, but I can drink that any day.)
What is, The ball pit at McDonalds, Alex?
Post of the day!
When I was on kindergarten or first grade someone pinched me for failing to wear something green on St. Patrick’s Day.
Having been born to immigrants, I had been completely unaware of that tradition and I decided immediately that I did not like a tradition that justified assault and battery on such trivial grounds.
Even at that age I was already objecting to “traditions” and anything even vaguely associated with religion.
So I decided from then on that would never celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and everything I have seen in the subsequent four decades has justified that decision.
It was a thing in elementary school, and when I was in college, people drank green beer. My ex is of entirely Irish descent, from New York City, and he celebrated the holiday mightily when he was young. Once we parted ways, and I no longer lived in the eastern part of the US, I pretty much forgot about it.
However, I have lived in parts of the US that celebrated St. Urho’s Day. It was invented in Minnesota in the 1950’s, is celebrated on March 16, and is a spoof on St. Pat’s. (Urho drove the grasshoppers out of Finland, saving the grape crop. A big part of the joke is that there was no grape crop in Finland, and plenty of grasshoppers.).
Celebrating it again today.