How Irish Is St. Patrick’s Day Really?

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This past week, Not Your Average Travel Guide explored the five day heathen festival that is St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland. Watching folks decked out in hokey leprechaun outfits, Irish flag colored wigs, and fuzzy brown Guinness hats, I couldn’t help but think, “Has America conquered St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland too?”.

Having visited the Emerald Isle in fall 2005 (admittedly the only travel I’ve done outside of North America), my girlfriend and I spoke with many Dublin and Belfast natives, as well as folks from outside the Irish urban sprawl. After staring bleary-eyed at the bottom of enough empty Guinness pints, I’d often ask of them: “Tell me the real deal. Is St. Patty’s Day a big deal here or what?”. The response to which would inevitably involve eye-rolling and tsk-tsking. In short: no.

Here in the States where The Olive Garden is a fancy Italian eatery and Chili’s is authentic southwestern fare, we’re fairly expert at hijacking just about anything and turning it into a caricature of its former self. Last Saturday night proved that we’re more than willing and able to do the same for an Irish holiday about which we know absolutely nothing. But, hey, Irish people drink a lot, right? And everyone in Ireland is a wee lil’ leprechaun searching for pots o’ gold and four leaf clovers, so let’s just say it’s about drinking … and the color green.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed off to Ri-Ra for some traditional Irish crack. Or is it craic? Whatever. Don’t blame me – I’m American. I didn’t invent the stupid holiday.

Founding Editor
  1. Nice entry. As a US ex-pat living here in Ireland the last several years, I would wholeheartedly agree with the americanization comment but not the “not a big deal” thing.

    While foam hats and green pints might be the rage nowadays, the hallmarks of the holiday used to be national prayer and closed pubs. It has always been big deal, just not a drunken one.

    After all, Patrick is the patron saint of this (until recently) staunchly catholic country. Life in Ireland really did revolve around the church – they were the only folks who stuck it out with them in all their misery.

    Also, despite the long struggle for Irish independence, there is no Irish independence day (last year was the first year it was celebrated publicly) – sentiments of Irish pride have always been reserved for Paddy’s day.

    You might be interested in this blog entry where I try to describe for my fellow yanks how the Irish feel watching worldwide Paddy’s day celebrations. I said it would be like this:

    Imagine if on the 4th of July we all put on foam cowboy hats, fat suits and ignorant expressions while dancing around in Mickey Mouse costumes burning effigies of Native Americans.

    hehe

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