Pet peeve

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I think the whole holiday is nonsense, myself. Bunch of americans use it as an excuse to get drunk on cheap beer artificially colored green. Has nothing to do with Irish, or St. Patrick.

Don't know how many Paddy's Days you've celebrated in Ireland, but I'll tell you this much, and it couldn't be more true if I was staring into my own grave, you won't be able to move in Temple Bar on Paddy's Day except for the partying (and drinking) going on. Johnny Fox's pub is booked out a year in advance (by locals) and the whole of Dublin, as well as the more rural parts of Ireland, will be celebrating like there is no such a thing as a hangover. Jeasus but I will miss it, even being the "Ascendancy Prod" that I am. Invented by Americans? More like invented for Americans and others so they could join in the craic with the rest of us.

[slohairt]

Yeah, when I think of "Patty", I think of Patricia!

I, too, have a love/hate relationship with St. Patrick's Day. Much of it is trivialized nonsense, but in North America we tend to do that with most cultures anyway. When I was younger I certainly went out 'swilling with the lads' but nowadays I prefer a small party at home with friends and family. I observe the holiday only to celebrate Irish culture since, as an atheist, I could care less about St. Patrick himself.

[beloitpiper]

Take a deep breath, then let it go.

I have, I just wanted to get it off my chest.

Greg-- don't be "more Irish than the Irish"!

No, no, I wouldn't do that now. But just because Irish people say "St. Paddy" doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. I spent the summer in Northern Ireland with the Friends of St. Patrick, so I just like to see his name being used properly.

Yeah, when I think of "Patty", I think of Patricia!

I, too, have a love/hate relationship with St. Patrick's Day. Much of it is trivialized nonsense, but in North America we tend to do that with most cultures anyway. When I was younger I certainly went out 'swilling with the lads' but nowadays I prefer a small party at home with friends and family. I observe the holiday only to celebrate Irish culture since, as an atheist, I could care less about St. Patrick himself.

Ditto. To ALL of it. Slohairt, we have more in common that I thought.

[ccga3359]

Why is it deemed proper to celebrate the life of a man of the cloth by getting blitzed?

[Bugbear]

Why is it deemed proper to celebrate the life of a man of the cloth by getting blitzed?

I don't know, but from what my mother has told me of her time living in Dublin during the Nineties, it's not just the one day.
Although, her pub owner did get a blender and supplies just so she could have Margaritas.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

But just because Irish people say "St. Paddy" doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

Can't say I ever heard anyone use the phrase "St. Paddy".... even on Paddy's Day. But I do remember a Paddy's Day interview on RTE (the Irish government radio-television network) that went something like this:

ANNCR: So what makes Paddy's Day special for you?

LITTLE KID: On Paddy's Day we celebrate the life of Saint Patrick.

ANNCR: And what do you know about Saint Patrick?

LITTLE KID: Well... (long pause, thinking hard) ...he had a big snake and his last name was Guinness...

[SteveB]

In Honour of Saint Patrick, our family wears something green for the day, whether it is hose, a t-shirt, and an afternoon get together over fish and chips. (The corned beef & cabbage thing is too American). Many decades ago, I too would go to the local for more beverage than I should. Today that beverage is hot tea, not beer.
Slainte