St. Patrick's Apologia

[artificer]

More broadly, there is a trend in the modern world for formerly religious holidays to take on a more secular and/or commercial tone. ...

Of course if you go back even further in history, most holidays of a religious nature in Western Europe FAR predate Christianity's overlaying a new meaning and were Pagan festivals to mark the seasons or astronomical events. So, good or bad, the bacchanalian nature of these holidays may be a return to a much older style of celebration.

ith:

[mookien]

A bit off topic: Since Cinco de Mayo has been raised, it is popular in Albuquerque, and other southwestern U.S cities, to shoot guns into the air in celebration. The problem is bad enough that around midnight (the peak time for such revelry) some Albuquerque Police Department patrol units park their cars under bridges for protection against the bullets returning to earth. A few years ago a young girl was hit in the head with a "stray" bullet and seriously injured.

[McClef]

I am not comfortable with this thread which is already straying into controversial territory so I am moving it to the cooling off corner whilst it is looked at by my fellow Moderators.

Following discussion it has been agreed to return the thread but that it be closed.

It was considered that the original post was a valid one given that it deal with a specific situation and dealt with Celtic culture and kilts can be part of that.

But the thread was rapidly going downhill with potentially racial references to other cultures and then religion was brought in and finally guns and bullets. These things, besides potentially breaking the rules are complete diversions from the spirit and intent of the original poster. The food for thought aspect is considered worthy of reading and therefore it can stand but the way the thread was then being led could only have resulted in reports and disciplinary action.

We hope that thought can be given before replying to such specific threads in future.

Trefor for the Moderators.