Every year, the modern myth that St. Patrick's Day commemorates the mass-extermination of the Pagan Peoples of Eire by a Roman-trained Christian missionary invariably resurfaces. Some in the community, also invariably, buy into the propaganda and begin or join the righteous crusade to 'stick it' to St. Patrick and his memory. This reshaping of history is patently false (right up there with the belief that the ancient Irish Celts held the potato as sacred), so it leaves me to wonder about the significance of St. Patrick's Day in America.
St. Patrick's Day is a Catholic feast day and has evolved to become a day in which Irish culture and contribution is celebrated and recognized. Many people wear green, attend parades, exchange or consume traditional foods, adorn shamrocks, attend parades, and drink themselves slizzard. One of the most fascinating things about this holiday, to me, is that even non-Irish are entreated to participate! Throughout the day, I've noticed Italian-, German-, Asian-, Indian-, and African- Americans joining in on traditional Irish songs, wearing green, or just generally getting into the spirit of the day. It is a rare example, especially in a large city, of the ability of human beings to come together in synchronicity to engage one another with a single focus. It is an amazing example of people dropping the labels and baggage to which they normally cling so fervently in order to share in each other's company! How rarely do we do this! Sure, people are supposed to do it it during the 'holiday season' of Winter but I think an argument for a true expression of harmony and plurality can be made for St. Patrick's Day.
And I don't think we have St. Patrick, the Catholic Church, or even Irish culture to thank for that, which is why I do not feel the need to 'stick it' to St. Patrick. I think all of that is irrelevant! The Saint, the Church, the Feast, and the religious history of the day is a red-herring. None of that has much significance to the large majority of people out there celebrating; all that information tells you is why people are celebrating today. The real significance of St. Patrick's Day is that people have made it the entire focus of their day to step outside of their everyday 'boxes' and celebrate with others who are similarly focused!
And now, you either think I'm completely off-base, am an overly optimistic hippie, or we're on the same page! I'd be interested to know which!
I'm as eclectic as they come. If a holiday is fun, and it not celebrating a people's torment of another, I'm always willing to party. I believe holidays are made of people and what they make you feel, if they happen to attached to a particular faith... oh well.
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