St Patrick's Day Is Not Just For The Irish

Since Portland is not a city with a big Irish influence there isn't much happening here for those who want to celebrate in an "Irish way". Potlanders aren't much for public displays of any type. There are a more solitary lot. But in my former New Orleans there is a huge Irish presence with plenty of parades, green beer, and green people and things decorated for the day. So St. Patty Day is not alien to me. Growing up my family (my maternal grandma was Irish) always ate lamb (an Irish favorite) so I'll make myself Irish stew (lamb stew) one day this weekend. Hmmmm I wonder if the Irish would be upset if they found out I was part Irish.

St. Patrick's Day seems to be one of those "accidental holidays" in that it was not a public project but rather slowly and gradually became a public way of announcing one's Irish heritage. Supposedly, the first sign of it in the form of a public display was in London , England. That's something an Irishman would not like to talk about, given they don't see eye to eye with the English.

Did you know that St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday in only three places outside of Ireland..... in Montserrat, in Labrador and in Newfoundland?  Too, Boston is where the first St. Patty Day parade was held, and the biggest St. Patrick's Day parade is not in Ireland, but in New York City where 150,000 people are in the parade that is watched by about 3 million people who line the streets.

Even the symbols of modern St. Patrick Day celebrations are not totally of Irish reference or heritage. Take St. Patrick himself, the guy who planted the seeds of Catholicism in Ireland  The person on which that modern character is based was Scottish. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and sold into Irish slavery. Later on in time he became a priest and took on the name Patricius, better known as Patrick.  In any case, the Scottish want some recognition for St. Patrick too.

One thing that is especially nice about St. Patrick's Day is that it is a welcoming celebration. The Irish  are friendly and welcoming types. They don't really care if you have Irish ancestry.  So put on something green this Sunday and punch someone who is not in green. Happy St. Patrick's Day

As the Irish say...
 'May your pockets be heavy
 Your heart be light,
 And may good luck pursue you,
 Morning, noon and night.'