i realized belatedly the other day that we were coming up on saint patrick’s day, one of those holidays that lacks the status as a federal holiday but in which a lot of people, it seems, participate. once i realized that, i figured that perhaps i would write an installment of this series for the occasion—when i realized that as i usually write installments for holidays, i surely must’ve done one for this already. but it turns out that no, i haven’t. and i suppose that means i’m overdue, esp considering there haven’t been many blog entries about it!
now, i’m fairly certain most of us—at least in the US—have seen the guinness commercial about the campaign to elevate saint patrick’s day to a federal holiday.
i’ve always known that the event we here in the US observe as saint patrick’s day is a largely secular event but was largely unfamiliar with its religious significance. obviously he’s best known for supposedly banishing serpents from ireland (although science has since demonstrated that ireland has always been snake-free) but more significantly, with christianizing the land we call ireland.
as i usually do with these installments, i began by checking out the wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day) about saint patrick’s day. i invariably learn something new when i do that, and this time was no different: apparently, this year’s saint patrick’s day date was moved to avoid it falling on palm sunday—and this apparently also occurred in 1940 and will again 2160, well beyond the worries of anybody reading this, i imagine…
given that in much of the english-speaking world, the date is most commonly observed as a celebration of irish culture, i was shocked when i read in history books while growing up that the irish immigrants were the victims of prejudice on arriving in the US! it was a strange idea to me: i could understand that someone who looks different would be subject to discrimination—i knew that from personal experience—but that a group that looked very similar could also be the subject of bias was really eye-opening to me. while i'm sure some of it was your general anti-immigrant sentiment (“they’re gonna steal our jobs”), i'm sure that it had to be at least in part a function of the protestant majority reacting to this new catholic minority and their different ways. after all, for centuries, protestant/catholic wars were de rigeur for centuries of european history.
so to me, when i observe saint patrick’s day, yes, it is for me a celebration of irish culture. because to me, that’s the nature of the day. it’s incredible that we’ve gone in this country from hating the irish to celebrating them. we have gone from the one extreme to the other. if former NYC mayor ed koch can call himself “irish for the day”, then why not the rest of us?
i’m asian, but heck, i certainly feel justified in saying that of myself!
so what is saint patrick’s day to you? is it a celebration of irish culture, an excuse to get blotto, some happy combination of those things together? or perhaps it’s something else for you? comment and let me know.
ed
silverwhisper posted on Mar 17, 2008
| views: 363
Comments
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quietone said on Mar 17, 2008....
I have a good deal of irish blood, but I just enjoy hearing the music as it make ya just wanna dance the irish jig! :) happy st.pattys day ed! -
biglove said on Mar 17, 2008....
Well Ed, I don't really care about St Patty's Day. I don't go out and sing, dance or get drunk, it's just another day for me. Not to mention that the "snakes" that St Patrick drove out of Ireland refered to the pagans, and since he drove them out using whatever means necessary (torture, burnings, etc), it's a touchy holiday for me....but thanks for sharing ;-)) -
Zayda said on Mar 17, 2008....
For most people, who celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a religious observation, it was celebrated this Friday rather than today. Yesterday, Palm Sunday, began Holy Week; and according to Catholic tradition, no other saints are supposed to be celebrated during Holy week; thus, many churches moved their St. Patrick's Day observations to this past Friday or Saturday and many communities held their St. Patrick's celebrations this past Friday as well.
This is the first time in 70 years that St. Patrick's Day has occurred during Holy Week; it won't happen again until 2160.
As for me, I'll wear green today because my son insists that I do and he's wearing it because they are doing something small in his class today. But, that's about as big as our St. Patrick's Day will be. -
TinSoldier said on Mar 17, 2008....
Huh. I thought that St. Patrick's Day was always on March 17.
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Zayda said on Mar 17, 2008....
Tin--St. Patrick's Day is always on March 17th. So, officially, it is today. But, because it falls during Holy Week this year, many churches and communities, especially predominately Catholic communities, held their celebrations early so as not to hold the celebrations during Holy Week. -
TinSoldier said on Mar 17, 2008....
Ahh. Thanks, Zayda. I had heard something about that but you explained it more clearly.
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beyondtheveil said on Mar 17, 2008....
Ed- Not being Catholic or Irish, I have never celebrated this day. However, I do appreciate the considerable notice the Irish have received in this country. It has made us richer culturally. -
starchini said on Mar 17, 2008....
Im bohemian, mexican, and irish...all cultures that welcome partying with open arms! For me St. Patricks day is the one day that its ok for everyone to get completly shit faced! I took advantage of that this year and certainly the next. I thought st. patricks day celebrated the saint st. patrick interesting. Anyhoo next year everyone should celebrate st pats in nebraska! No other place does it bigger or better. : ) I hope urs was a good one silv. -
silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
quietone: and to you! and yeah, happy saint patrick's day to you too! :>
biglove: i'll confess i'm a bit skeptical re: the snakes/paganism link, to be honest. i noticed that in the article though but there appears to be some uncertainty.
super z: ah yes, i'm a doofus as i misread. thank you. :>
TS: informative, isn't she? :>
beyond: well, it's not like i've got any irish ancestry, either. but yes, they absolutely have, no question.
starchini: i didn't know you were so culturally diverse--that's pretty nifty! and of course, i hope yours is good too. :D
ed -
biglove said on Mar 17, 2008....
I did some research last year on St. Patrick for a work project and that is when I learned he got the pagans out of Ireland and brought Christianity...he was kind of a bastard.
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
now that's interesting--i should do some research myself, then.
ed -
tbs230 said on Mar 17, 2008....
So I went to a Catholic high school. Our saint was Italian...however, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day...we celebrated hardcore! Mostly because of our marching band. So today, my high school is closed, while the marching band marches down 5th Ave.
It's crazy, but whatever...personally, I don't like this day. It has been memories for me. And the fact that every idiot on the street is using this day as an excuse to get drunk. (In high school we used to say that every Irish person from Long Island use in the city, either drunk or passed out.)
I just don't get it.
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
honestly, i think that it's more a function of the people around you, tbs. as you get older, i think you'll find that fewer people treat it that way, you know?
ed -
GrapeKoolaid said on Mar 17, 2008....
To be honest, the plastic Irish kinda piss me off. If I see another blow-up leprechaun on the lawn, I swear, I'm gonna puncture it.
Don't get me wrong. I've met many Irish folk and they're nice, genuine people. I've always been a big supporter of judging individuals, not adhering to stereotypes.
However, even having said that, the plastic paddies are surplus humanity. St. Patty's day is nothing but an excuse for public drunkenness and other low-brow rubery in my opinion. Makes me want to wear orange, shout "C of E!"(Church of England) and walk the parade the opposite way. Perhaps a Glasgow Rangers T-shirt, waving a UDA(Ulster Defense Assoc) banner. Perhaps discuss the merits of re-establishing the Know-Nothing party.
Of course, I don't, because I have no interest in getting mobbed by the pope's army, who will most likely be drunk and ornery. Besides, being Asian, I have no stake in this fight.
It's the rabble-rouser in me that thinks about these things, but honestly, I'm far too timid and lazy to carry it through.
They say everyone's Irish on St. Patty's day, but I don't think I'm what they meant when they were talking about the "Black Irish". Just a feeling. :)
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
[trout-smacks grape]
me, i've witnessed too much honest-to-goodness goodwill to say, to be honest, grape.
hey, i'm asian too, dude. :p
ed -
GrapeKoolaid said on Mar 17, 2008....
ed: Gotta eat something(trout, actually... No... I kid.... It's salmon tonight), but will brb. :D
I saw that you mention that above(you being azn, that is), and it's something that you and I've discussed in passing. We'll get into the finer points of being outsiders looking in on this day of celebration after my (pink)trout. :D
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lfbno7 said on Mar 17, 2008....
St Patrick's Day is my second least favorite holiday. I dislike it. One day I was riding the NJ Transit train between my home and Manhattan, where I used to work, and I heard the conductor talking about holidays. I think we were very close to New Year's Eve, and someone asked him if New Year's Eve is the worst holiday to be a conductor because of all the drunks on the train, and he said no, it was by far St Patty's Day, the day the drunks really come out of the woodwork and make the train a disgusting place to be.
My image of St Patty's Day is some jerk staggering along the sidewalk and then throwing up.
They say that St Patrick removed the snakes from Ireland but that's a lie. Archaeologists say there were never snakes in Ireland. I'm not a fan of saints to begin with. Saints shmaints.
I never wear green on St Patty's Day unless by pure coincidence. I can't stand uniformity. I also never wear a suit and tie. If I had been in China during the Mao years, I wouldn't have worn those fucking pajamas they all wore, nor would I have carried around their fucking Little Red Book full of the sayings of that worthless shitbag. The only holiday I despise more than this one is Columbus Day, the day they celebrate the Hitler of the 15th Century. -
TinSoldier said on Mar 17, 2008....
Low brow is the best brow. -
gingersoul said on Mar 17, 2008....
Ed........the only reason way S.Patrick's day has been remembered in my family is only due to my sister. Her name was Patrizia, the feminine version of Patrick. Then after some years along came my youngest nephew, Patrizio.
This name is pretty populari n Italy and being Italy a Catholic country we have at least one saint to which each day of the calendar is dedicated.
San Patrizio is a loved saint in Italy. We have a famous location called the Well of S.Patrick. Read here. The traditions attributed to the well magical powers and lovers would promise to each other their eternal love. But in the general meaning we say "Hai trovato il pozzo di San Patrizio " (You found S.Patrick's well) to indicate somebody who is takign great advantage from a particular easy situation or if they win a lottery or landing a renumerative job....
We never had anything to do with green elves and beer as you can see...:-).
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
[trout-smacks grape...again!]
lbf: "the hitler of the 15th century?" dude, i'm sorry but that's utterly frigging loopy.
TS: [insert random YM joke here] :p
GS: yes, i imagine that a saint's feast day is a pretty big deal in your native italy. thank you for the link re: the well of st. patrick, that was quite informative. :> what, beer? in italy of all places? o, that would just so not be right!
ed -
TinSoldier said on Mar 17, 2008....
No, ed, that would be "unibrow" :P
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silverwhisper said on Mar 17, 2008....
bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! :D
ed -
lfbno7 said on Mar 19, 2008....
I'm surprised you don't know that Columbus was the Hitler of the 15th Century. It's obvious. He mass murdered and enslaved every native he could get his hands on. He was evil personified. He was Satan walking. He was as close to pure evil as any human being has ever been, pretty much in a dead heat with Hitler. Put it this way. If you lived in the Caribbean in 1492, Columbus would have enslaved or murdered your whole family. He allowed his troops to rape, mutilate, and murder at will. Columbus was the devil incarnate. -
silverwhisper said on Mar 20, 2008....
i have an idea: i won't tell you you're a complete lunatic if you agree to refrain from ranting as if you are one. fair?
ed -
soaringraven said on May 14, 2008....
Since I have just begun to read you and since this is your most recent post in this particular line of posts I thought I might as well make a comment or two.
One, you do seem to be this 'prolific' guy as your self description claims
Two, my first celebration of this particular holiday was the day I was born, as it is my birthday. That is rather much the sum of my interest in the holiday however. Being neither Catholic nor Irish the day has held little significance religiously. I do remember from time to time wearing orange on March 17 as a youth, in protest to all the attention the day was receiving in the secular world.
Now I am off to the beginning of this line of posts to find out where it all started. I will read them in order as you have posted them and work my way back to this one. By that time you may have added a new one.
soaring
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silverwhisper said on May 14, 2008....
salutations, soaringraven. :> yes, i was (at least at the time) rather prolific. and i always wondered what it might be like to have this day as a birthday.
i gotta say, the odds of me posting a new installment in this series in the short-term are pretty poor--i used to write these when i was riding the train while commuting, but i don't have that job anymore.
but i do hope you found some interesting reading in looking back. :>
ed
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