en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 19 May 2013 02:24:18 GMT 15 By Carolyn Coleman
In today’s society there is not a holiday that everyone can identify with without a large amount of objections. After all, we cannot even recite our country’s pledge of allegiance without arguing about under whom we are one nation. There is one holiday that is the exception to this rule. Every year on March 17, we are all Irish without any objections. Everyone wears green and eats corned beef and potatoes. Whether you wear green to avoid being pinched or you just love the festivities, St. Patrick’s Day unites us all. However, there is more to St. Patrick’s Day than green beer, leprechauns and potatoes. Throughout our own nation, major cities have certain traditions that unite the Irish and the “wannabe” Irish for years. Chicago dyes its river green every year to commemorate the day which adds to the festivities. The city uses about forty pounds of vegetable dye that creates a visual that even the rivers have been infected with the Irish cheer. In Seattle, the traffic directions are painted green for the annual parade that takes place downtown. In New York City, the parade on St. Patrick’s Day happens to be the biggest in the entire world, even topping Ireland’s parade. The five hour procession is always led by the U.S. 69th Infantry Division. At the beginning of the parade, the commissioner of the parade always asks the commander if the 69th is ready, to which the reply is “the 69th is always ready!” St. Pat’s Alumni Board of the Missouri University of Science and Technology paints twelve blocks of the city kelly green before the parade. Many of the cities in the United States cities hold parades featuring bands, armed forces and little leprechauns prancing through the streets. Of course along with parades and green streets, McDonalds always offers their ever so popular Shamrock Shakes which highlight a mint flavor; for a limited time during the month of March. “I look forward to Shamrock Shakes every year; it is unfortunate that they are only available during the St. Patty’s day season. It [the shake] definitely adds to the season and I look forward to the season and day every year,” junior Jaime McCarrell said. What kind of celebration takes place in the country of the origin during this holiday one might ask? As the title of St. Patrick Day implies, the holiday is religiously based and comes from the story of how St. Patrick taught the Irish Pagans Christianity. Before it was more of a secular holiday everyone went to church and sang traditional Irish songs of their proud, strong heritage. After church the priest would hand out shamrocks to everyone as they left the service. “When I was little, after church I would always search for shamrocks within the fields with my friends and we would see who would get the most. After that we would go to the parade that was always held within the streets of the town,” mother of four and resident of Dublin, Ireland, Marie Monnelly said. If the celebration happened to fall during Lent (a Catholic season, where people usually give something up to parallel the sacrifice of Jesus) it was broken and then resumed the next day. The reason for this is, if a person gave up alcohol for Lent, they could drink all day and enjoy the festivities. Corned beef and cabbage or bacon and cabbage were not eaten on St. Patrick’s Day because it was considered normal, everyday food so beef or chicken would be eaten. These days residents go to their local parade, go to the céillií which is an Irish dancing event where no one is left feeling self-conscious about their dance moves, and it is always a day off of school. Everyone of age or close to goes out on the town with friends and family and have a good time sporting their green apparel. “There are no leprechauns running around free, there are no rivers running green throughout the country and I have never heard anyone say top ‘o the mornin’ on near or anytime I have lived in Dublin,” resident of Dublin for twenty-five years, Katie Monnelly commented. Whether you live in Ireland, Chicago or New Zealand, green can be seen sported across the world. This day creates a sense of unity and togetherness throughout multiple cities and if not, they have little red pinch marks all over their body. “It is a country-wide and turned into a worldwide thing. It’s just a great day to celebrate being Irish, to have fun, eat and drink. Could you ask for more in a single day?” resident of Louisburgh, Ireland, Molly O’Toole added. ]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:48:58 GMT