I'm not Irish, and neither are you

[wizards8507]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day? When scolded by a coworker for not wearing green today, I responded that I'm French-Portuguese and therefore do not celebrate Saint Patrick's day and she gave me a look like I had just insulted her child.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any insight on how this cultural phenomenon came to be?

 

[IrishSteelhead]

If you enjoy the festivities today regardless of ethnicity, more power to you. If you spend all day angry others are enjoying it, or chiding them for something stupid like not wearing green, shame on you.

 

[Irishnuke]

Because people ruin everything.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Saint Patricks Day has become so silly. In America, they should just call it "Green Day". The non-irish can keep wearing shamrocks and getting hammered, and us Irish can just live our lives like the other 364 days that we're still Irish.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day?

The official answer is that Irish Americans are the 2nd largest self-reported ancestry group in the US. The real answer is commodification. Same reason we pretend to care about Drinko de Mayo.

Since German Americans are the largest self-reported ancestry group and identity politics are always on the rise in our miserable culture, look for a new fake holiday modeled on Oktoberfest to come into vogue soon.

Edit: And my paternal grandmother was 2nd generation Irish American, so don't presume to tell me who isn't Irish, you Froggy Fish.

 

[MNIrishman]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day? When scolded by a coworker for not wearing green today, I responded that I'm French-Portuguese and therefore do not celebrate Saint Patrick's day and she gave me a look like I had just insulted her child.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any insight on how this cultural phenomenon came to be?

So that explains it...

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm American damn it.

 

[wizards8507]

I'm American damn it.

Cheers.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Though about half of my family is Irish (the only Catholics in my tree). I guess it's time to go get a Guinness then.

 

[BeauBenken]

Who cares what you are? Celebrate it. It's a day of celebration for a reason. You don't have a celebration day and forbid everyone to celebrate it. Maybe they don't understand why you celebrate it, but it will be remembered! Drink up guys!

Most Irish-Americans don't know why the holiday is truly celebrated anyways. (This coming from someone of Phaelan lineage.)

 

[kmoose]

Who cares what you are? Celebrate it. It's a day of celebration for a reason. You don't have a celebration day and forbid everyone to celebrate it. Maybe they don't understand why you celebrate it, but it will be remembered! Drink up guys!

Most Irish-Americans don't know why the holiday is truly celebrated anyways. (This coming from someone of Phaelan lineage.)

St. Patrick drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Unfortunately, he forgot to do the same with their almost identical cousins; the politicians.

 

[woolybug25]

Ahh... St Patty's Day. My favorite memories of the holiday are back in college when my red-headed Irish buddy walked around like a drunk creep, asking every pretty girl he met:

Drunk Buddy: "Aye, me lady. Tell me... do you have any Irish in ya?"

Pretty Girl: "hehe... no...."

Drunk Buddy: "Would ya like some?"

 

[greyhammer90]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day? When scolded by a coworker for not wearing green today, I responded that I'm French-Portuguese and therefore do not celebrate Saint Patrick's day and she gave me a look like I had just insulted her child.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any insight on how this cultural phenomenon came to be?

I bet you're great at parties.

 

[Emcee77]

The official answer is that Irish Americans are the 2nd largest self-reported ancestry group in the US. The real answer is commodification. Same reason we pretend to care about Drinko de Mayo.

Since German Americans are the largest self-reported ancestry group and identity politics are always on the rise in our miserable culture, look for a new fake holiday modeled on Oktoberfest to come into vogue soon.

Edit: And my paternal grandmother was 2nd generation Irish American, so don't presume to tell me who isn't Irish, you Froggy Fish.

Right. I saw this linked somewhere today:

St. Patrick's Day 2011: Facts, Myths, and Traditions

Sheds a little light. Basically, like Cinco de Mayo, St. Paddy's is a holiday that immigrants and descendants of immigrants in this country began to celebrate as an expression of ethnic pride, in a way that actually bears little resemblance to any celebration in the old country, and a bunch of other people looking for an excuse to celebrate something jumped on the bandwagon.

 

[IrishinTN]

And don't even get him started on Cinco de Mayo!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Right. I saw this linked somewhere today:

St. Patrick's Day 2011: Facts, Myths, and Traditions

Sheds a little light. Basically, like Cinco de Mayo, St. Paddy's is a holiday that immigrants and descendants of immigrants in this country began to celebrate as an expression of ethnic pride, in a way that actually bears little resemblance to any celebration in the old country, and a bunch of other people looking for an excuse to celebrate something jumped on the bandwagon.

Good stuff. Patrick was a limey Brit. The real patron saint of Ireland is Declan, after whom my eldest son is named.

 

[BobbyMac]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day? When scolded by a coworker for not wearing green today, I responded that I'm French-Portuguese and therefore do not celebrate Saint Patrick's day and she gave me a look like I had just insulted her child.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any insight on how this cultural phenomenon came to be?

The same reason they care about your Mardi Gras, the Mexican's Cinco de Mayo and the Italian's Valentine's Day and Halloween Because corporate America said you need to spend money and celebrate.

 

[BobbyMac]

Thankfully, Dyngus Day is still on the down low except in Buffalo and the South Bend / Michiana area. Nothing says Happy Dingus Day like a polish girl and an accordion.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If sectarian Christian bickering and historical revisionism don't amuse you, feel free to pass over the following link:

But DID YOU KNOW... that St. Patrick was actually a Baptist? #TakeThatPapists

 

[wizards8507]

Who cares what you are? Celebrate it. It's a day of celebration for a reason. You don't have a celebration day and forbid everyone to celebrate it. Maybe they don't understand why you celebrate it, but it will be remembered! Drink up guys!

Most Irish-Americans don't know why the holiday is truly celebrated anyways. (This coming from someone of Phaelan lineage.)

That's my point... celebrate WHAT, exactly? Alcoholism? Cultural streotypes about alcoholism?

 

[Buster Bluth]

If Catholics can hold holidays on top of pagan/Roman celebrations, then non-Catholics can build their celebrations on Catholics holidays. It's only fair haha

I don't know anyone my age who doesn't look at St. Patrick's Day as the unofficial first day of spring. A damn fine reason to drink your face off.

 

[greyhammer90]

If Catholics can hold holidays on top of pagan/Roman celebrations, then non-Catholics can build their celebrations on Catholics holidays. It's only fair haha

I don't know anyone my age who doesn't look at St. Patrick's Day as the unofficial first day of spring. A damn fine reason to drink your face off.

My 75 degree backyard with a hammock agrees with this

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

My 75 degree backyard with a hammock agrees with this

Whoa. Do you need, like, crampons and a grappling hook to reach that hammock? Or do I have it backwards and you just use a zip line?

 

[greyhammer90]

Whoa. Do you need, like, crampons and a grappling hook to reach that hammock? Or do I have it backwards and you just use a zip line?

It involves a very complicated but efficient pulley system. Patent pending.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Whoa. Do you need, like, crampons and a grappling hook to reach that hammock? Or do I have it backwards and you just use a zip line?

It involves a very complicated but efficient pulley system. Patent pending.

Hammer's house (probably):

 

[Irish#1]

Realizing that a community built around supporting the "Fighting Irish" is a bit of a unique animal on this particular topic, can someone explain to me why today is a day when non-Catholic, non-Irish people are supposed to pretend like they care (or actually care?) about an Irish Catholic feast day? When scolded by a coworker for not wearing green today, I responded that I'm French-Portuguese and therefore do not celebrate Saint Patrick's day and she gave me a look like I had just insulted her child.

In all seriousness, does anyone have any insight on how this cultural phenomenon came to be?

They do it because they wish they were Irish.

My Grandfathers were immigrants from Ireland and Macedonia. One of my Grandmothers was an immigrant from Germany. My other grandmothers lineage dates back to colonial days and England. Pretty sure this is why I'm always mixed up.

 

[woolybug25]

It involves a very complicated but efficient pulley system. Patent pending.

What's different about your system than the mountain hammocks that have existed for decades? I slept in one in the Tetons back in '07. It was a 90 degree face. See Whiskey's pic above.

Not being a dick, btw. I'm actually interested.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm not the least bit Irish, but I have been rocking my Celtic FC Jersey all day, got a number of compliments as well, am celebrating the day in true fashion.

I'm a proud American of Scottish blood, I love our melting pot... To me its about that, wish there were more days like this... I'll be celebrating Cinco in May with all the Meximericans too... Even if your not of, it's part of what makes all of us,... us...

Corn beef and cabbage is almost ready boys... Time to get my Irish on...

 

[IrishLion]

look for a new fake holiday modeled on Oktoberfest to come into vogue soon.

The Greater Cincinnati area is ahead of the curve. It's not a full 16 days, but it's a weekend to mirror Oktoberfest that is usually pretty fantastic.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[NDdomer2]

Hey wizard, write a grantland article about it!!!!!