As drunken laughter echoes through streets covered in green, the signs of St. Patrick’s Day are apparent. Every March 17, merry Irish men and women share the holiday with those they hold near and dear.
The adult goal of St. Patrick’s Day appears to be celebrating the memory of St. Patrick by diving into a drunken stupor. For children, the holiday turns an average day into a battlefield of pinches and screams.
Some people make food baskets filled with green fruits and vegetables. The Danish hold a three-legged race for charity. Chicago dyes the Chicago River green each year. The city of O’Neill, Neb., paints a giant shamrock on its highway and hosts a St. Patrick’s Day festival complete with a dramatic reading of “Green Eggs and Ham.”
Traditionally, New Orleans and Baton Rouge have their own St. Patrick’s Day parades, complete with floats and throws. This would be a good time for those who missed out on Mardi Gras because of inclement weather to catch up on their parade quota.
St. Patrick’s Day is a day for the Irish to celebrate, but is it a holiday for other nations? American holidays like the Fourth of July are recognized throughout the nation because of their history. The history of St. Patrick’s Day is rarely mentioned in America. While there are plenty of Irish men and women in America, the holiday has changed from a day to remember a specific person to a scapegoat for people to become intoxicated.
There are Catholic saints who don’t have holidays, yet are lumped together for All Saints’ Day. Why not drink a copious amount of alcohol on that day as well? St. Patrick is a vital part of Irish heritage, but is remembered in a way that causes some to forget what they did on St. Patrick’s Day.
Depending on a person’s beliefs, there may be nothing wrong with the consumption of alcohol. However, the intention of the holiday and a person’s quest for a state of inebriation do not have to coincide. For many, drinking is fun, but is it the end all and be all of St. Patrick’s Day?
There are more things to do than get drunk during St. Patrick’s Day or any holiday for that matter. There are plenty of other options out there for those who simply don’t have a taste for alcohol. If possible, take the day and have fun by all means, but don’t put a limit on what is expected of the holiday. While St. Patrick’s Day is all about having fun, entertainment does not have to come in the shape of a bottle.