Plenty of Irish-Americans alike have their own theories of how to and how not to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. There are even criticisms for other criticisms on how to celebrate the holiday! Here is my list of do's and don'ts for this Friday.
It is Paddy. Not Patty.
Paddy is derived from the Irish, Pádraig: the source of those mysterious, emerald double-Ds. Patty is the diminutive of Patricia, or a burger, and just not something you call a fella. There isn’t a sinner in Ireland that would refer to a Patrick as “Patty”. It’s as simple as that. This is courtesy of a website dedicated to this cause: PaddyNotPatty.com
Don't: Call it "St. Patty's Day" unless you're headed for a burger special at McDonald's
Enjoy an Irish beverage:
Ireland produces many tasty beverages. This St. Patrick's Day have your favorite beverage from the Emerald Isle or try one if you have not done so before. Since 1759, Guinness has been one of Ireland's most famous ales. Brewed in St. James Gate - Dublin, Guinness is an Irish dry stout that is smooth and creamy, my personal favorite. Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey and another great choice for the day. If you chose Bushmills however, my mother would suggest you bless it first. Jameson is distilled in Ireland, the Catholic part of the island, Bushmills is distilled in Northern Ireland - the Protestant whiskey. (This is intended as friendly banter!)
Don't: Order an Irish Car Bomb or green beer.
Eat traditional Irish food:
I think Irish culture gets a bad reputation for their cuisine. Soda bread, bangers and mash, colcannon, bacon (boiled ham) and cabbage, stew, boxty, Shepherd's Pie, potato bread, and black pudding are a few popular dishes. Cabbage and corned beef are popular in cities with a large Irish-American population. Irish cuisine is perfect for a fall or winter night accompanied by a hearty pint of your favorite beer.
Don't: There isn't a don't here, just enjoy the food.
Listen to Irish music:
This is one of my favorite parts of the culture. Irish music is lively and usually tells a story. Both contemporary and traditional Irish music can be heard in your local pub! (Beware, foot stomping is likely to occur). Irish Pub Music may even be considered a genre of its own. My Irish favorites include Galway Girl, The Liar, The Star of the County Down and many more!
Go to an Irish Pub!
There's a county map to go on the wall,
A hurling stick & a shinty ball,
The bric, the brac, the craic & all,
Let's call it an Irish pub'
Well, you're walkin' through a city street, you could be in Peru
And you hear a distant calling and you know it's meant for you
Then you drop what you were doing and you join the merry mob
And before you know just where you are, you're in an Irish pub
The pub is a core part of Irish culture. They are characterized by a unique culture centered around a casual and friendly atmosphere, hearty food and drink, Irish sports, and traditional Irish music. Authentic Irish pubs are usually dark, homey, and have many aspects of old world decor (ckitchen.com)
Don't: Get in a bar fight!
Wear some green!
So many people wear something green on St Patrick ’s Day that has become known by many as the wearing of the green to celebrate their Irish heritage. Note that the above suggestion does not support wearing nothing but green in absurd ways. None the less, find a green shirt that would rival the fields of Athenry. Another popular choice of attire is a shirt with one of Ireland's famous exports; a Guinness shirt, a Jameson shirt, or a jersey from your favorite Irish sports team are all great options.
Don't: Wear cheesy "Irish" drinking shirts. Many of these are considered offensive. There was once a man who went to a Walmart and bought every St. Patrick's Day shirt they had only to return them for a full refund days later. Check it out - Irish Central.
What are your thoughts? There are dozens of ways to celebrate this holiday, regardless of what customs you choose to follow, have a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day!
