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Nora Bell
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This may be a bit early for some, but I'm stuck home and bored. :-)
What, if anything, do you folks do on St. Patrick's Day? Any traditions out there?
A previous generation went to church before hitting the Pub. Now we just hit the Pub, me and a few family members.
This year, if I can break free of the clan, I may go see Angelatini's show.
Mr. Crankypants
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I generally avoid being around drunken revelers whenever possible, so going out on St. Paddy's day isn't on the schedule.
Food, on the other hand... I like food. I imagine there might be some corned beef and cabbage (or a cabbage substitute, maybe) on the menu. And a green-frosted cupcake, I bet.
20feet
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Since we don't have any Irish heritage in our family, nor are we religious, it isn't that important to us. I have made Corned beef and cabbage before, it is pretty good and a nice treat. I have always wanted to go to Murphy's on 45 for the whole day to see the music and enjoy the merriment, but I always have to work.
Gilman Girl
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On St Patricks day, I go to a Mexican place.
On Cinco de Mayo, I go to an Irish place.
Mr. Crankypants
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That's a great idea, GG. I once spent the 4th of July in Canada and then Canada Day back in the US.
julesage
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im venturing out to see angelatini's band that night. taking a cab from ballard there, and home again after the shindig. im totally open for anyone else to share the cab fare with me if interested.
Nora Bell
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Wacky, GG, truly wacky. :-)
To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Irish food (my great grandmother spinning in her grave at that) so can't comment on the corned beef and cabbage. I am very Irish, though, and still have family over there. So it's been tradition to go to the parade, go out on the day and listen to trad music and drink beer.
Though, I know it's supposed to be a religious day there are some like my mother who would prefer to forget the Catholic aspect of the festivities. There are many even among the Irish that just use it as an excuse to celebrate being Irish, or even just to celebrate Irish music and traditions. It's a lot like Cinco de Mayo that way, actually.
Edog
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I've been to Ireland many times, have meet many Irish people, have spoken with them at length on the subject, and none of us have ever been able to figure out just what Corned Beef and Cabbage has to do with being Irish.
BriarRose
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Edog I have wondered that myself?
impliedobserver
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We bake potatoes then watch Father Ted. Feck.
Edog
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I love Father Ted! I don't have an audible laugh, but that show makes me laugh out loud.
Bamber
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Edog - I was going to say the same thing! Every Irish person I know has said something along the lines of..."We don't eat that crap!" LOL!
Still...while I'm not a fan of the whole corned beef and "crappage"...I do love it once a year when my dad puts a whole meal together with the corned beef, and a cabbage, potato, carrot and turnip medley with his famous Irish soda bread. I don't eat the corned beef, but the rest is lovely.
Alonzo Neighbor
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and of course, not all Irish are Catholic. I'm one of those orange Irish so I always make a point of wearing orange (as well as green) on that day. I do like to celebrate the culture and music but not the food. My husband is Italian and always wants to cook corned beef. Blech!
Edog
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"not all Irish are Catholic"
Yes, there are weird celebrations of Irishness the world over. I understand that in Canada, there are places where St. Patrick and some sort of Orange Prince march in the same parade - totally nuts. I mean were that to happen in N. Ireland I'm sure the police would be involved at some point.
My sense of St. Patrick's day is that it was manufactured holiday that was an expression of local political power designed to give legitimacy to an immigrant population, which was largely roman catholic. As manufactured holidays go, anything goes with time, but I think the orange is best saved for July and August, not that I wear green on that day either.
pennygirl
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Edog...
The Orangemen parade in Northern Ireland on July 12th.
St Patrick's Day is not a manufactured holiday. It is recognition of the Patron Saint of Ireland, the same as St David (Wales), St Andrew (Scotland) and St George (England).
It has just become commercialized to the point where it isn't really recognizable as a Religious day any more.
Mr. Crankypants
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"I've been to Ireland many times, have meet many Irish people, have spoken with them at length on the subject, and none of us have ever been able to figure out just what Corned Beef and Cabbage has to do with being Irish."
Edog, what *do* they eat?
Edog
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Penny - I thought there was a marching season, not day. And that the march depended on the city, day, and what chapter was organizing the march.
Also, I think we are talking past each other on the origin of the holiday. I was observing how it came to be in the US. Kind of like Columbus Day.
pennygirl
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Edog...
I could be wrong, but I think that July 12th is when the major march is held in certain cities and towns in Northern Ireland. It's a recognized Bank Holiday, therefore the actual day when the Battle of the Boyne is recognized.
pennygirl
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Sorry Edog, I didn't read your second paragraph.
If you're referring to St Patrick's Day - it has been observed for over 250 years in Ireland. I imagine that the Irish Immigrants just carried on the observance when they arrived here.
Nora Bell
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Oh, make no mistake, it's a Catholic holiday in origin. But over here it's become the holiday of the green plastic derby hat.
Crankypants - They eat colcannon. :-)
Bamber
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I was going to say that too, Nora Bell, but I couldn't remember how to spell it...!
Reba
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I Do what Gilman Girl does. Go to a Mexican restaurant. Sorry. I dont pay cover charges or over and inflated drink prices just to go to a "irish" bar on St. Paddy's day.
I may be running the St pats dash. Thats the closest I get to any sort of holiday related stuff.
Ever since i moved to Seattle we also go and do the St. Patties Day Dash. I don't love to run, but after I run I definitely deserve a drink :)
Nora Bell
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Bamber - I may have spelled it wrong but I think it's pretty close. It's a lot yummier than corned beef and cabbage, in any case.
I've never in my life paid a cover for St. Pats, Reba. But I normally take the day (and the day after) off and tend to get places early. My employers have been understanding of this since I'll work any other 'holiday.'
This year I'm unemployed. If I'm lucky enough to get a job by St. Pat's I'll gladly get out later and pay a cover.
teigyr
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I always do St. Pat's Dash though it's not on the actual day. Guinness is usually there handing out free stuff, what more does one want? And we always deserve drinks though the trick is to find somewhere open that early in the a.m. that doesn't have huge crowds.
On the actual day, I don't think I have any traditions. I'm of Irish heritage but that day (along with most other "holidays")is just another day. Sometimes we'll see if the local pub (no cover charge and decent food) is doing anything special.
wildernessbarbie
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I am all for Angelatini's show... being an Irish lass, I'm all for celebrating the fun that is St. Patty's Day! 'Cept for the corned beef... my mom used to make that too, as well as PB&J sandwiches with mint apple jelly on the day because it was green. Ick on both counts.
I do have a recipe for Guiness ice cream though, I think I could make that a new tradition instead!
angelatini
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Oh yes, please do come down to the show! :) It will be my band and The Black Crabs. We're opening, but really that just means we're doing the first half of the night, then The Black Crabs do the second.
Yes, there is a cover, but it's for the bands not solely because of St. Patty's Day. :)
It will be at Hwy 99 downtown on Alaskan Way, under the Viaduct. It's across from the piers and very close to the stairs that go up to the Pike Place Market. Starts at 9pm!
http://highway99blues.com/
Edog
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Penny -Yes, I was referring to St. Patrick's "I imagine that the Irish Immigrants just carried on the observance when they arrived here."
True that, but these traditions are dynamic. I don't like to rely on wiki, but their is a pretty concise explanation of what I was getting at earlier here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day#Early_celebrations
I mean, parades and marches are more or less the same thing, and are usually pretty political, the ability to shut down city streets is a big deal, and a sign of legitimacy. Just think of the early gay pride marches, compared to what we have today. Did you know in DC, they have a parade marking the end of slavery, can you imagine how that might be received in certain parts of the country today?
Of course, making the point more vivid is this Orange business we spoke about earlier.
As for July 12, yes, that the big one, but from April through November different Orders and Lodges march observing different victories, or sacrifices. These marches are designed to go right through Catholic areas as much to make a statement about who a person is not, as much as who they are.
As for how I plan to celebrate St. Patty's, well my great grandmother from Finland used to talk about St. Urho, so maybe I'll give that a go this year.
Nora Bell
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'as the Knights of St. Urho disrobe and dance the tango with the lovely Iron Maidens to inspiring accordion music!'
Now that's a celebration! :-)
Rory
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A bit of a thread hijack here, but not so long ago I borrowed from the library the DVD, "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" and learned a lot about recent (1920) Irish history. I don't know how historically accurate but boy it was well acted and also just extraordinarly somber. I recommend it. It has a terribly depressing ending, which is possibly why it didn't make it huge (at least I don't recall it being) in the theaters. And, so sad to admit, I had to run it with English subtitles the first time through, even though it was in English, because the Irish accents were so strong! I know, lame of me!
Aunt Salad
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I always carry green food coloring and after (how to say politely) use the public restroom - after a good flush, put some green food coloring in the john! It is always a surprise!
ps - I hate those caraway seeds
Suzaroo
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Aunt Salad!! I LOVE THAT! HAHAHA!
Nora Bell
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Oh! Thanks for the idea, Aunt Salad! ;-)
teigyr
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I would love to go to Angelatini's show! I can't guarantee I'll be off early enough to make it but I maybe could leave work (near SeaTac) by 10 or so.
angelatini
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Well you know when we say 9pm it always turns into 9:30pm. hahaha Come on down teigyr! :)
teigyr
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I thought there was another thread re the show but maybe not. We just rebid our shifts and I am off thurs-sat which means the 17th will be my friday :) I think that is reason enough to celebrate. Do we know who all is going? I know for sure I'll be late but I'd like to try to go.
Nora Bell
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It was mentioned in the thread about the show before it. Not sure how far we need to look for that one.
I'm not sure if I'll be at her show at St. Pat's. I'm talking to my 'people' after the parade about formalized plans.
ahtma
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FYI: The St Patrick's Day parade is Wednesday, March 13th, 12:30 pm, beginning at Fourth Ave & Jefferson St. It's always on the Saturday closest to March 17th because they only close Fourth Ave from noon to 2:00 for the parade. Couldn't be done on a weekday during regular business hours. Lots of free places to watch along Fourth Ave, with the reviewing/judging stand at Westlake Center. Anyone can march! Even the Seafair Pirates and the Sounders are allowed. It's always a great fun parade with lots of kids and dancing groups, Irish dogs, counties, etc. all being represented. And this way you get to celebrate/party on two days instead of one! Also, the Irish Festival is at the Seattle Center House Sat & Sun for more authentic Irish Stuff where you can trace your ancestors back to the old sod. Irish Heritage Club has more info.
Nora Bell
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Saturday, March 13th @ 12:30, just to clarify. I know that was a mis-type, ahtma, but some folks are easily confused
(namely me) :-)
Yeah, it's a diverse parade. The Delorean club is even there, for some reason. And if you're feeling in the mood to march, yes, please join in. I'm always trying to steel myself up enough to march behind the county crest.
Suzaroo
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My sister is going to be in town this weekend. We may just end up at the parade after all. :)
Roadkill
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Wow...surprised at all the corned beef and cabbage hate here! I love the stuff. As I know it, it's an Irish-American thing, as during the Irish immigration wave into New York and Boston the Irish were very poor (as well as treated like 3rd class citizens back then) and corned beef and cabbage became a staple diet due to that was affordable, not by choice, really. It's evolved into basically what you could call Irish soul food, I guess. African-American soul food is arguably more tasty, but I look forward to corned beef and cabbage every year.
Nora Bell
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Yay! If you want to say howdy we're usually hanging out in front of McCormick's.
Nora Bell
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Not hate, in my case. More like disdain. :-)
ahtma
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No more green beer tasting for me!
teigyr
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I might have to go to the Irish Festival too. I'm running St. Pat's Dash downtown anyway so heck, might as well make a day of it.
julesage
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teigyr: i would be happy to share a cab ride with you to and home from seeing angelatini's band if you wish. i do have to work from 12:30-6 that day so i will not be "ready" to head out until about 8pm. i need to go home and walk bella, etc.. after work BEFORE getting too irish out there;).....
just lmk and we can go from there. anyone else is more than welcome too. if 4 of us share a cabfare from ballard it would be really decent and the safest route by far on that night!!
Nora Bell
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Heh! It's kind of confusing with or without the green beer, but I'm happy they do the parade on a saturday. A Wednesday afternoon parade would get kind of a small and sad crowd.
Teigyr - When is the dash?
teigyr
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julesage, I would love to but I'd be coming straight from work. If I were to go home first I might not get there until 10 or 10:30 which would be kind of late. That is a great idea and I'm sure people will take you up on it! This means, of course, I can't get too Irish, *sigh*.
Nora Bell, the Dash is on sunday! It's pretty impressive and it's a lot of fun. There are bagpipers out on the course and the master of ceremonies (probably the same guy who is at the festival) does an opening speech. Will you be at the festival on sunday?
Nora Bell
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Alas, I'll just be downtown on Saturday and perhaps Wednesday. I'll probably be watching TV coverage of it, though. Good luck at the dash! :-)
wildernessbarbie
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My friends and I are totally planning on hitting Angelatini's gig that night. Fun times will be had by all!!!
teigyr
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Nora Bell, are you a member of the Irish Heritage Club? I'm looking at the website and it looks pretty cool. Am thinking it might be fun to trace my dad's heritage, he's really Irish with a pretty unique last name. Supposedly we're descended from a really tall pagan king or something like that. I remember hearing the stories but I was young and didn't really pay attention. And thanks, the Dash will be fun! Am not so keen on the new course but the experience is worth it.
Nora Bell
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Not a member, I just have their website on my favorites list. They might be the best resource for tracing your heritage. I've often thought of doing that too. There probably aren't any pagan kings among my kin, but there ought to be some fairly interesting characters.
waughoutwoud
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lol
jubbjubb
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Incidentally my very Irish friend, who emigrated from there to here, serves a lovely St. Patty's lunch. Apparently the Irish tradition is not corned beef but rather boiled bacon; and it's absolutely fantastic.
Nora Bell
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Boiled bacon? I think I'll stick with the collcanon. ;-)
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