It's not easy being anti-green

I am not wearing green today.

I know I'm going to get some crap over this, but here's the truth:

I hate St. Patrick's Day.

I am Swedish and Norwegian. This is not my holiday. In fact, if the Swedes and Norwegians were to have a color, it would have to be white, certainly not something as flamboyant as green. This is because we eat a lot of white food and are probably some of the whitest people on the planet.

But back to St. Patrick's Day and why I don't like it. I'm just not all that keen on a holiday that revolves around drinking copious amounts of beer. Okay, now I know I'm going to get a lot of hate mail. From crime writers who enjoy drinking copious amounts of beer. I'm not averse to beer, or even copious amounts, but dedicating a holiday and having that as an excuse, well, it just doesn't set right with me.

I did do a bit of research (okay, I only went to the History Channel, but at least it's not Wikipedia) online and discovered that until the 1970s, pubs were actually CLOSED in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, in deference to the saint whom the holiday is named after. But that didn't mean there wasn't a lot of drinking going on. Because it takes place during Lent, any Lenten prohobition was on hold for St. Patrick's Day, and people could just run amok if they wanted. The Irish would feast on bacon and cabbage while drinking (which is probably the only way I'd be compelled to have a bacon and cabbage dinner). They also danced. But this is probably also attributed to the drinking.

This year, the city of New Haven actually imposed a ban on drinking during the annual parade. As you can probably guess, this was a pretty unpopular decision. In the New Haven Register, we see these quotes:

“There are less people and the energy level is lower than before. I come to this parade every year. It’s had bad weather before,” said Francisco Cerna, a promoter who said the drinking ban — not rain and wind — dampened the event. “The St. Paddy’s Day Parade was so incredible before. The second you got here you felt energy,” she said.

Sam Sulllivan agreed: “It’s been (a tradition) for years and years. It takes away the spirit from the parade, which is all about having fun.”

Even a parade sucks when there's no drinking.

So let me have it, FOFOs. I know you want to.

Karen

Comments

[victor gischler]

Herring-Eater!

[John]

OK, I agree with you. But that's probably because I don't drink. That, and I seem to have outgrown all my green clothing...

[David Terrenoire]

Parades, even with drinking, tend to suck. Drinking only makes them tolerable.

As for wearing green, I wore my one green sweater today, mostly because it was cold this morning.

And if someone offered to buy me a Guinness (I don't drink beer), it would be churlish to deny them the pleasure now, wouldn't it.

I think every holiday should be based around drinking. Just think how much better the egg rolling would be on Easter.

[Lori Armstrong]

I'm with Terrenoire on this - all holidays should involve alcohol!!

I usually have a beer and a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's on St. Paddy's...probably not this year.

But we are having corned beef and cabbage, a long Armstrong tradition. We also have it other times during the year too...

[Kieran]

In NYC it's the best day to eat Italian. No ONE goes to an Italian restaurant on SPD.

I'm having a Pepsi and wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.

[Gerard]

I an wearing a watch with a green band and carrying a green handled knife.

If you want to be really anti-St. Patrick's day wear orange and complain about everything that happened after 1916.

[AlisonGaylin]

Aquavit swiller.

[Becky Hutchison]

I have to agree with David about how parades suck. Even when relatives are in them, they are long and boring, until the relatives show up. Then you smile and wave and are generally happy forever, until the relatives march past. Then it's dull and boring again.

I didn't wear green today, and it's usually my best color. But I totally forgot it was St. Patty's Day until I got out on the road. Then you couldn't miss it with all the shamrocks and smiling Irish dudes plastered on banners around town. Stores were advertising St Patrick Day specials and, of course, bars & restaurants wanted to ply you with Irish food and beer. I resolved to stay strong and not stop at any of those places (which wasn't too hard since I don't really drink and have a particular aversion to corned beef).

Erin Go Bragh, anyway!

[Karen Olson]

For the record, I don't eat herring. But I do enjoy a good white cream sauce and potatoes.

When I left work today, I had to pass a bagpiper on the sidewalk in front of an Irish pub on my way to the bus. He did not want to get out of my way. I was sure he had read this post.