Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Happy Saint Patties Day everyone! To be honest, I don’t know what this day is all about other then four leaf clovers, leprechauns and anything green. Is it really a celebration of the Irish culture because to me it just seems like an excuse to drink green beer. Anyone out there who comes from Irish decent that can explain to me what St. Patrick’s day is REALLY all about?
Play Asia
March 18th, 2012 at 12:57 am
Ahem *grabs a green beer*
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. As the legend goes, he was born in Britain, but came to Ireland bringing with him Christianity. His most famous act was explaining the ‘Divine Trinity’ (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) with the three leaves of the shamrock. He became so well loved that when he passed away, the Irish devoted the 17th of March (presumably the day of his death) as a religious holiday. Parties, parades, and (even when this date is during Lent) the Irish feasted on traditional Irish bacon and cabbage.
Then the Irish came to the US and brought with them the traditions of St. Patrick’s Day. It escalated into the party day we all know and love today.
Salute! *drinks beer*
March 18th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Well, that sounds like a very nice and proper explanation to St. Patrick’s Day. Thank you very much. ^_^
March 18th, 2012 at 7:50 am
While CN has the legend/history mostly right, I prefer the following explanation of SPD. Pat is also known for ridding Ireland of all snakes. In doing so, he made it safe at last to get mind smashingly drunk (sans fear of venomous bites), which immediately led to Pat’s being the most popular man in the land. The Irish then began a tradition of getting as plastered as possible on the day of his reported death (to celebrate both the freedom to drink and the man who made it possible). Nowadays, the Irish and we of Irish descent temporarily ordain all the people of the world as Irish, so that they may too enjoy Pat’s work.
Slainte!
March 18th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
This version does sound a bit more fantastic then CinosNroca’s that’s for sure. It actually reminds me of that Simpsons episode on Whacking Day. ^_^
March 19th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Believe it or not, Jewish butchers had a hand in modern American St Patrick’s Day fare. When Irish immigrant’s came to this country, they found that mutton and bacon, their traditional food sources, was too expensive. But they found corned beef, sold by many jewish shops, to be more reasonably priced. So corned beef became linked with Irish immigrants thanks to Jewish immigrants.