Why do you celebrate St Patrick's Day?
By Foxfire1875
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
March 12, 2008 10:04am CST
I've never understood why so many non Irish people celebrate St Patrick's Day. 
I'm a typical Scot, in that I have Irish ancestry but still do not see the point in going over board about St Patrick. I barely pay much attention to St Andrew.
If it's just an excuse to get drunk, well you can do that every weekend.
So can someone tell me why?
I'm a typical Scot, in that I have Irish ancestry but still do not see the point in going over board about St Patrick. I barely pay much attention to St Andrew. If it's just an excuse to get drunk, well you can do that every weekend.
So can someone tell me why?3 people like this
6 responses
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I am part Irish and don't drink. One reason my friends like to celebrate the day with me is they enjoy eating Irish food and wearing green. Its fun to get dressed up and my area has a parade. We can all go and do the Irish Dance and it doesn't matter whether your a novice.
3 people like this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
14 Mar 08
We danced all night last year. It was so much fun and a great way to spend time with friends.
2 people like this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
13 Mar 08
Maybe it's the fact that the Irish are such a friendly, fun loving race that everybody wants to party with them. I must admit nobody, not even the Scots can party like the Irish.
2 people like this
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
16 Mar 08
The only real reason I do anything for St. Patrick's Day is because I'm a preschool teacher. My class is having a party, but other than that, nothing. I've never really been into St. Patrick's Day other than when I was a kid and you had to be sure to wear green to school or be pinched all day. I figure it is a holiday that gives people a reason to party.
2 people like this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
20 Mar 08
I've never heard of this pinching for not wearing green. It must be an American thing. It's a strange choice for a party but I suppose everyone wants to party with the Irish, they do it really well.
@pumpkinjam (8876)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 08
I would wonder the same thing but where I live, people will use anything as an excuse to get drunk. We have a lot of Scottish people who apparently don't even know who St. Andrew is but will "celebrate" St. Patrick's day. Our local Irish community consists of the family who run one of the pubs so it really makes no sense to me that so many non-Irish would celebrate St. Patrick's day, especially when hardly anyone celebrates St. Andrew's or St. George's day in a place where 90% of the population are either Scottish or English.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
20 Mar 08
My point exactly pumpkinjam. Although I have Irish ancestry, I have no desire whatsoever to celebrate St Patrick's day or any saint for that matter, it all seems a bit pointless to me.
I don't drink these days but my main excuse was to celebrate a Hibs win or drown my sorrows at a Hibs loss. So pretty much every weekend I was very very drunk.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
12 Mar 08
I'm not Irish but I guess most of the people just like another reason to party and drink as much as they can 
. Of course that some celebrate it because of the traditional reason, the protector saint of Ireland, but I believe that just like Christmas, New Years or Halloween, most people just need to party and feel good (in their own way, whichever that is).
. Of course that some celebrate it because of the traditional reason, the protector saint of Ireland, but I believe that just like Christmas, New Years or Halloween, most people just need to party and feel good (in their own way, whichever that is).2 people like this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
12 Mar 08
It just seems strange that this saint is more popular than any other.
Anybody can go out and party any night of the week though.
I used to every weekend that there was a home football game, as I would meet up with friends that I hadn't seen since the last home game or longer. I can't afford to do that now as much and also I've stopped drinking, too many hangovers.
Anybody can go out and party any night of the week though.
I used to every weekend that there was a home football game, as I would meet up with friends that I hadn't seen since the last home game or longer. I can't afford to do that now as much and also I've stopped drinking, too many hangovers.1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I am Irish, German and Italian. My Dad came here from Italy. He was born over there and then his parents came over here and stayed. Now to the question why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day is for me as far back as I can remember our family always celebrated the day. It has to do with celebrating the Irish. Irishmen are people who like to laugh and have a good time. But they also have a temper. I don't drink and I enjoy this holiday. There are some people who like it because it means that they can drink and go to parties but this is not the only holiday that people use as a reason for drinking and getting drunk on.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
14 Mar 08
If you're Irish it makes sense to celebrate but I don't celebrate my country's saint and there are a lot of people who just want to join the party and I can't really blame them, the Irish are a lot of fun to be with. Maybe if other people celebrated their saints day, it wouldn't seem so strange.
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
12 Mar 08
You know I have wondering the same thing. I was actually thinking of starting a discussion about it. But you beat me to it. LOL! Now I don't celebrate it to get drunk. I am Irish/Scottish decent. So St. Patrick's Day is a big holiday for my family. But we don't get drunk celebrating it. So I would also like to know why non-irish people celebrate this day?
2 people like this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
12 Mar 08
I can see the point of Irish or Irish descent but everybody goes crazy regardless of where they are from. Other saints in the British Isles, don't get this overwhelming celebration.
I was surprised nobody had asked this as well but maybe there are a few more like you, that I've beaten to this.
1 person likes this
