So. Perhaps it’s because I was pinched as a schoolboy for not wearing green on the 17th of March, but I really don’t get St. Patrick’s Day. I didn’t want to down anyone’s party (well, except the upstairs neighbors’) on the day, but it occurred to me, as it does most years, that America is a strange place, and that we are strange people. As everywhere and everybody, I’m sure, but...
OK, so if for some strange reason Purim got picked up by the bulk of the American people as an opportunity for parties and drinking, it would seem very strange to me. I mean, yes, unlike St. Patrick’s Day, Purim is a holiday that is and ought to be ritually observed with drinking (and eating, and reading the megillah, and giving to charity, and giving food to friends and neighbors). So it would make some sense if our neighbors decided that it would be fun to celebrate the holiday with us, or at any rate near us, or at any rate in bars with Happy Purim! signs. But I would feel strange about it.
And if many these countrymen of mine proceeded to ignore the religious aspect to the holiday and the charitable and scholarly obligations that go with it, but heightened the importance of the drinking, eating and cross-dressing, I would feel strange about that. And if bars, saloons and pubs took the opportunity to cash in by decorating themselves in ersatz Judaica and adding “-berg” and “-enstein” to the name tags of the bartenders, I would definitely feel strange about that. And if the stores sold enormous plastic yarmulkes in day-glo colors, if I saw a teenager staggering down the street in a false beard and a novelty tallis, I would feel very strange indeed about that.
In fact, I would fear for my safety.
But here’s the thing—St. Patrick’s Day isn’t like that. It’s not.
I don’t know why it isn’t, but it’s not.
Tolerabimus quod tolerare debemus,
-Vardibidian.
that’s very funny. i think the irish are okay with it. in fact i found this in the wikipee entry
The first Saint Patrick’s Festival was held on March 17, 1996. In 1997, it became a three-day event, and by 2000 was a four-day event. By 2006, the festival was five days long.
also, st.p’s day is 39 yrs older than the american republic in which it causes inebriation. which is to say, if you would like me to call myself hibiscushevitz in 100 yrs, start marching now.