# St. Paddy's Day - Are you celebrating, have any Irish in ya? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179 "2006-03-13T16:14:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/21 "2006-03-13T17:48:16Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > The bandwagon stupidity of this holiday makes me want to wear orange. Ditto. I plan to do absolutely nothing for St. Patrick’s Day. I’m half of Irish extraction. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/22 "2006-03-13T17:50:16Z")
I’m a bit of a pariah in my family – I’m an Irishman who finds corned beef and cabbage utterly revolting. So, we’ll be sitting down to our traditional family dinner this week, in which mom makes corned beef and cabbage…and one hamburger. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/23 "2006-03-13T17:52:11Z")
My shirt for the year is “Fellate me, I’m Irish.” I’ll report back if any stories develop… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/24 "2006-03-13T17:59:03Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > I’m a quarter Irish, so I’ll see if I can skive off work a bit and pick up a crate of Guinness on Friday. Sláinte, mo cairde! 🙂 > …You know, some people might genuinely want to celebrate their Irish heritage on an (almost-official) national holiday. Just saying. And I have no problem with that. It’s all the others who use it as just another excuse to get drunk that give it a bad name. Not that there’s anything wrong with getting drunk…hic… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/25 "2006-03-13T18:01:07Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > And I have no problem with that. It’s all the others who use it as just another excuse to get drunk that give it a bad name. Not that there’s anything wrong with getting drunk…hic… 😃 Oh, no worries, I hear you. 🙂 Here, have a Guinness on me. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/26 "2006-03-13T18:07:24Z")
> [@TwistofFate](#): > > Good! wear Orange, after all it is a colour on the Irish flag. the green, white and orange represent “the hands of all Irish nationalists, catholic, protestant and dissenter, not clasped, but clenched in heroic brotherhood”. > > Personally, I shall be mostly drinking and giving directions to american tourists. That’s a good point. It’s funny how these things are. My ancestors were Huguenots, Protestants who came to America to escape the intolerance towards non-Catholics. Yet, I’m not happy about the way Protestants came into Ireland. ::shrugs:: Religion is a rough business. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/27 "2006-03-13T18:20:24Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > The bandwagon stupidity of this holiday makes me want to wear orange. That would be for the Dutch’s Queens Day. The opposite of St Pattricks Day green is a Union Jack. > [@Kythereia](#): > > …You know, some people might genuinely want to celebrate their Irish heritage on an (almost-official) national holiday. Just saying. and this is the holiday for celebrating all the negative stereotypes of being Irish! ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/28 "2006-03-13T18:22:20Z")
Drinkin’ after work at the Wishing Well, for me. Last year, they had about 1000 revelers. Thank heavens I live withing staggering distance. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/29 "2006-03-13T18:24:38Z")
Hmm. This “holiday” bugs me. Especially here in Chicagoland. Since I look WASP-ish with reddish blonde hair, I get asked alot if I’m of Irish descent. I tell people I’m Irish Prostestant. I swear most people don’t know what to do with that. I am Protestant Irish-so I used to wear orange on March 17. Then I realized that the Irish Catholics had pulled off an enormous coup re their religion. They really don’t mean “everyone’s Irish on St Paddy’s Day”–they mean everyone is Catholic or some such nonsense. So, I don’t celebrate St Patrick’s Day–I’m NOT Catholic. I will wear orange on William of Orange\* day–which also happens to be my birthday. \*wearing of this color does not signify endorsement of any policies etc–just a recognition of my heritage… ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/30 "2006-03-13T18:33:13Z")
There’s not a drop of Irish blood in me (100% Norwegian descent), but I’ll be visiting Philly to celebrate with a friend. I’m sure the bars will be packed to overflowing, but it should be a fun trip nonetheless. Many holidays get on my nerves, but St. Paddy’s day isn’t one of them. “Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day” works just fine for me, as long as that means I get a glass of good Irish whiskey in hand. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/31 "2006-03-13T19:04:03Z")
I am not going to get drunk, however. I never get drunk. But I may have some Irish Creme in my coffee. … Boy, the dirty jokes are just coming (oh boy) without even meaning to. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/32 "2006-03-13T20:10:50Z")
I’m a total ethnic bastard with roots in North America as far back as 400 years. Actually, a lot longer–Great Grandmother had some Cherokee in her…from time to time. 😃 So, what? Jewish, Cherokee, German, Russian & English from my mom’s side and kind of a nebulous smear of Welsh, Irish, Scotish and French (picked up in Canada) from my dad’s side. I eat rocks like an Irishman, but I can swim so I must be predominantly Scotish. Can I still play? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/33 "2006-03-13T20:19:25Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Then I realized that the Irish Catholics had pulled off an enormous coup re their religion. They really don’t mean “everyone’s Irish on St Paddy’s Day”–they mean everyone is Catholic or some such nonsense. I have to believe that St Patricks Day was co-oped more by Guiness & Co and Anheuser-Bush than by the Catholic Church. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/34 "2006-03-13T20:59:48Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I hate the air of superiority some Irish take on St. Patrick’s day (pretty hard to avoid it in Chicago) so we will be staying home, as usual. Yep. My half-Italian, no-Irish-descent husband was the only Italian kid in a pretty much otherwise all-Irish Catholic school, so you might well understand that he tends to hold a bit of a grudge against the more obnoxious Chicago Irish types. He’s also got a coworker who insists on playing a CD of traditional Irish tunes all day long on March 17th, and berating anyone who isn’t in the spirit of things. “Everyone’s Irish today,” blah blah blah. My husband tends to ask him what he’s doing for St. Joseph Day and if he’s wearing red, etc., and the guy has no clue about it. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/35 "2006-03-13T21:40:40Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I have to believe that St Patricks Day was co-oped more by Guiness & Co and Anheuser-Bush than by the Catholic Church. He’s a Catholic saint. He’s also most likely a myth. Whatever. Have fun, don’t drink and drive, but don’t think that celebrating this day makes you any more “Irish” than other folks. It’s a Catholic holiday. I’d use the roll eyes smiley, but he’s green…(joke) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/36 "2006-03-13T21:52:24Z")
I’m probably half irish (at least a 1/4, we don’t know about my dad’s side) but my great grandmother’s redheaded family came over from Ireland (tricking the immigration folks on the way) and so we’ve always celebrated with corned beef and cabbage and stories about my family. Yay. I love corned beef but it hates me, so I can only have it once a year. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/37 "2006-03-13T22:16:45Z")
1/2 Irish red-head here…gonna drive my non-Irish husband and friends around since I’m 5 months pregnant. I will have a few sips of Guiness though, you know, for the Irish. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/38 "2006-03-13T23:17:10Z")
I’m part Irish, and my name is Erin, but I won’t be going out or anything, since I never do that anyway. I’m going to a friend’s oboe recital, then back home to bum around online and go to bed at a reasonable hour (with a pillow over my head to block out the noise my frat-boy neighbors will surely make). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/39 "2006-03-14T00:00:14Z")
My grandmother was a Caldwell, which is either Scot or Irish, for what that’s worth. The best bash in town for St. Paddy is at the Knights of Columbus hall. You pay a fee, and you get all the Irish stew and beer you care to consume. I’ve never done it, though, because the K of C contributes to anti-abortion orgs, and I’m on the other side of that fence. Local grocery stores had a half price deal on Killian’s Irish Red beer; the label says it’s The O’fficial Beer of St. Patrick’s Day. Actually, it’s a mock Irish beer made in Colorado, but I’ll hoist a few of those. I might give a sip to my Tibetan dog, for Paddy is the patron saint of dogs. I’ll cook some corned beef brisket and cabbage that night. Wearing green? Sure, I can do that, and a newsboy cap, too. Begorrah, and, uh, stuff like that! ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179/40 "2006-03-14T01:07:00Z")
I’ve got a smidgen of Irish in me (1/16), but have consumed more than enough Guinness over the years to make up the difference. Sadly, I’ll be working on St. Patrick’s Day, but will probably find a few hours to celebrate on Sunday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-paddys-day-are-you-celebrating-have-any-irish-in-ya/348179.md?page=3)