Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Why is it such a big deal? Why do people who have nothing to do with Ireland celebrate it? Why am I seeing wherever I go "Happy St Patrick's Day" cards and stupid plastic leprechauns?I don't understand, there would be far more English spread across the world than Irish, yet most people have never heard of St Georges Day.Why is St Patricks Day so well respected? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSKS Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I've always assumed that it's because Ireland is still - at least in theory - a "Catholic" country, and thus saints have more meaning to them so they celebrate it more, and their lively way of doing so is catching. Also, I reckon "Guiness" (part of Diagio these days? - I'm so out of touch) help it along a lot for commercial reasons, as do other "Irish" companies who spot a commercial opportunity.[Www]Does anybody think George killed a dragon? Does anybody think dragons existed? He's a much tougher saint to get to grips with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 [quote user="Mr Coeur de Lion"]Why is it such a big deal? Why do people who have nothing to do with Ireland celebrate it? Why am I seeing wherever I go "Happy St Patrick's Day" cards and stupid plastic leprechauns? I don't understand, there would be far more English spread across the world than Irish, yet most people have never heard of St Georges Day. Why is St Patricks Day so well respected?[/quote]250 years of practise.[;-)]http://nycstpatricksparade.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 With the US it's the affinity they feel for the Irish going back centuries because they both fought for independence, America getting it much earlier of course than Ireland. Many Irish have also over the centuries escaped from English tyranny in Ireland to North America. It was also a great opportunity for NORAID to collect money to buy arms for the struggle in NI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterG Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I agree with Coops......... Guiness hijacked it for commercial reason and now the Irish Whiskey manufactures are jumping on the bandwagon. Coca Cola did this with the red Santa suit for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 [quote user="Mr Coeur de Lion"]Why is it such a big deal? Why do people who have nothing to do with Ireland celebrate it? Why am I seeing wherever I go "Happy St Patrick's Day" cards and stupid plastic leprechauns?I don't understand, there would be far more English spread across the world than Irish, yet most people have never heard of St Georges Day.Why is St Patricks Day so well respected?[/quote]I believe the large number of Irish migrants in the US has ensured St Patrick's Day is celebrated as a reminder of their roots to the "old country". This, is turn, has been an easy way for some factions to gain support for their cause.Many Hollywood celebs seem keen to use their link to some Irish ancestry to enhance their status, thereby ensuring St Paddy's day is known and celebrated by proxy through their fandom. In a way, it's a little bit like the ancestry search which wants to link every famous person to royalty or the Mayflower... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think Boston pretty much closes for St Patricks Day - there's a big parade there.I remember meeting a young guy there who told me he was Irish, what he meant was his grand parents were - they kind of hang onto their nationalities a while...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSKS Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I had a patient with a strong American accent who claimed to be Irish like me!. When asked where she was born she said ''Illinois''. Certainly not one of the 32 counties I'd heard of.St Patrick's Day seems to be a bigger deal for those that claim some tenuous connection to Ireland than it is to us Irish. I can understand it for a nation of immigrants looking for their roots, I can also understand the appeal of a good party for everyone else.Since it doesn't seem to do anyone any harm I fail to see a problem and I certainly don't see any comparison with St George who is the patron saint of England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, India, Iraq, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia and Russia amongst others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I'm not saying it does any harm, I just wondered why non Irish celebrate it too around the world. I think perhaps commercialism is probably the biggest reason.Might try and make a few bucks myself and introduce St George's Day in the US. Bet there's more English than Irish around, and the commerce would love yet another pointless reason to get people's money off of them :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSKS Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 C d L quote''Might try and make a few bucks myself and introduce St George's Day in the US. Bet there's more English than Irish around''And you could rope in the Russians, Iraqis,Greeks, Georgians etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSKS Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Double post. Sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 More the merrier :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-the-censored Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I love it - never get to go to a decent Burns night around these parts (unless I organise it!)!Might even wear my kilt this year :-)Simon :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 [quote user="Simon-come-lately"] never get to go to a decent Burns night around these parts Simon :-)[/quote]Nor here - bad time of year - and it's my birthday.[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSKS Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 S-c-L quote:''Might even wear my kilt this year :-)''I hope you do. No excuse for bottomless revelling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkkent Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 [quote user="cooperlola"]I've always assumed that it's because Ireland is still - at least in theory - a "Catholic" country, [/quote]The St Patrick's Day celebrations are catholic certainly, but I recall being told that the Irish protestant diaspora was even greater - and accounts for the Bible Belt in the southern and mid-western states. They don't march or celebrate anything, they just dominate the perception of the USA as being a hotbed of intolerance and fundamentalism - its most potent symbol being the appalling Westboro Baptist Church.[quote]Does anybody think George killed a dragon? Does anybody think dragons existed? He's a much tougher saint to get to grips with! [/quote]St Patrick has a reptilian link, too. He is supposed to expelled all snakes from Ireland - only he didn't because there wern't any there to start with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 [quote user="Clarkkent"][quote user="cooperlola"] I've always assumed that it's because Ireland is still - at least in theory - a "Catholic" country, [/quote]The St Patrick's Day celebrations are catholic certainly, but I recall being told that the Irish protestant diaspora was even greater - and accounts for the Bible Belt in the southern and mid-western states. They don't march or celebrate anything, they just dominate the perception of the USA as being a hotbed of intolerance and fundamentalism - its most potent symbol being the appalling Westboro Baptist Church.[quote]Does anybody think George killed a dragon? Does anybody think dragons existed? He's a much tougher saint to get to grips with! [/quote]St Patrick has a reptilian link, too. He is supposed to expelled all snakes from Ireland - only he didn't because there wern't any there to start with![/quote]Point well taken, Clark. I suppose I mean that "religion" plays a more obvious part in Irish culture. It's all a mystery to me.The Maltese say St P banished snakes from Malta also. I rest my case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 [quote user="Clarkkent"][quote user="cooperlola"] I've always assumed that it's because Ireland is still - at least in theory - a "Catholic" country, [/quote]The St Patrick's Day celebrations are catholic certainly, but I recall being told that the Irish protestant diaspora was even greater - and accounts for the Bible Belt in the southern and mid-western states. They don't march or celebrate anything, they just dominate the perception of the USA as being a hotbed of intolerance and fundamentalism - its most potent symbol being the appalling Westboro Baptist Church.[quote]Does anybody think George killed a dragon? Does anybody think dragons existed? He's a much tougher saint to get to grips with! [/quote]St Patrick has a reptilian link, too. He is supposed to expelled all snakes from Ireland - only he didn't because there wern't any there to start with![/quote]Well, this is strange as I have had an Irish snake in the grass for several years, called Thyril. lovely chap, about a metre long, sleeps a lot but great for keepin' mice down. Don't think he is religious though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbles Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Thounds luvly thith thnake of yourth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Yuv met heem, enny thweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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