Why Do Americans Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Ever since my first (and only) visit to Boston in 2004, I couldn't help but notice just how much Americans love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Who can blame them? But it got me wondering something: how did this come about?
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[@monsterduo4038]

I'm just a black American who has no ties to Ireland whatsoever. But I celebrate the holiday because many of my white countrymen descend from that land. It's important to them, so it's important to me. Plus, my favorite color is green and I love the limited-time Shamrock Shake from McDonald's lol

[@npc1821]

Everyone is Irish today. Enjoy it ;)

[@lisaanderson2900]

My husband is also black and for years has celebrated with me, claiming he was Irish by marriage. We had his DNA test done and we found out that he is in fact just a little bit Irish.

[@feliciarivera4297]

So good, that's gonna be a treat for later today!

[@FireCracker3240]

Hahaha, I love your comment, good sir. #ShamrockShakeForTheWin

[@angelwhispers2060]

Good! Have fun with your neighbors reinforce our identity as Americans and that we can share one another's festivities and celebrate what makes each of each unique without dividing ourselves. This is the great glue that holds the tapestry of America together. Thank you

[@nnyradio]

As a Scott /Irish /Canadian American, it is as much a celebration of the end of Winter, beginning of Spring as it is a celebration of St. Pat and all things Irish.

[@rongabbard7102]

Totally agree. It wouldn't be nearly as popular if it was a month earlier.

[@philipm06]

St. Patrick was British, not Oirish.

[@lizardlegend42]

@@philipm06 that dosent change anything. He's the patron saint of Ireland and is mainly connected to Ireland.

[@Mrwednesday84]

French Canadian/Welsh/Danish.

[@user-go3jv8rw7i]

St Patrick* not st pat come on

[@Zadster]

My theory is that everyone loves an excuse for a party, especially now its getting to the end of winter (in some places anyway). A theme always helps!

[@maxpowr90]

See Cinco de Mayo.

[@anandadaquino3604]

Of course. We celebrate it in Brazil HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

[@kaitourobin3206]

You know what is fun. Looking up different countries holidays. Thier tons of holiday simple made just a excuse to party. Honestly nothing wrong with it. People can sometimes get work up in negativity and work and just need to relax and hang out with love ones or make new friends.

[@nowthatsjustducky]

@@maxpowr90 All of April should be a month long holiday this year, with the 20th most sacred. After all, April 2020 is 4-20. Then after that is all over, we are ready to continue with Cinco de Mayo, preferably all month long in May.

[@TheSilverGate]

You got it, I can't stand so much stupidity every year during this day, it's just a lame excuse to drink and act stupid

[@WG55]

10:30 According to _Encyclopedia Brittanica,_ the first St. Patrick's Day parade in the U.S. was in 1737 in Boston, with New York City having its first parade in 1762.

[@anieanton7266]

William Adderholdt ooooooh

[@hectorsmommy1717]

St. Augustine had the first in 1601 but you are right in that the first parade by Irish immigrants was in Boston. St. Augustine was Spanish soldiers.

[@TheAtkey]

Same reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, to get really drunk regardless of what day it is.

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

Wrong, try again.

[@TheAtkey]

@@factsoverfeelings1776 It's a joke dude

[@manuelwitrago6511]

as good a reason as any... don't forget to drink tequila...

[@AtarahDerek]

Actually, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican-American holiday. We celebrate an alliance between the US and some Mexican states in a particular military conflict.

[@manuelwitrago6511]

all true, let the heads of state prance about in all their peacock glory... those of us in the sidelines will take any good excuse to form party and merriment...

[@kristenheuer5676]

My graddad was from Northern Ireland, St Patricks day was a day of prayer for him. We would have a family dinner, but it wasnt a big ordeal. Mostly just a family gathering. We did have St Pats parties in school though, and parades in towns.

[@EMMYK1916]

Don’t St Pat our patron saint. Firstly he was a male & we know he took the name Patrick. Also thankfully stop saying St Patty etc etc. And finally the 4 leaf clover has nothing to do with Ireland, it’s a Shamrock . 3 parts explaining the father, son & Holy Ghost.

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

Its also March, which is Irish American Heritage month.

[@Jake-bf5vf]

Americans just trying to steal are holiday. We don’t do thanksgiving do we?😑

[@nowthatsjustducky]

@@Jake-bf5vf Why shouldn't those of us whose great grand parents arrived on Ellis Island from Ireland and Scotland in 1895 take at least one day to appreciate a celebration that is also a part of our roots?

[@raveousone]

@@Jake-bf5vf seeing as thanksgiving is just americas version of the harvest festival in europe (you know european settles well mainly brits settled here originally then many died those that survived decided to celebrate and turned their old harvest festival into a time to be thankful they survived) ..... yes you do unless you quit celebrating the fall festival for harvest time

[@raveousone]

@Not A while true that's still basically irrelevant because thanksgiving the american harvest celebration was started by christian european settlers mostly english puritans and my comment was that any european especially english person that still celebrates their cultures harvest festival is technically celebrating thanksgiving because thanksgiving is basically a holiday based off their festivals the immigrants that created our country celebrated here to become thanksgiving .... besides with us in the states being a nation made up of people from almost every culture our culture is basically a bastardization of the rest of the world's cultures because the only form of multicultural communities that actually work is when you absorb some the immigrants customs into your own as you make them adapt to yours so that in the end you end up with a new culture slightly different then any of the ones you started with

[@noragamishiro]

When I live in Chicago in the 90's, I had a friend who had just immigrated from Ireland. He was amazed by our celebration of St. Paddy's Day so much so that he would throw the kitschiest, stereotypical American St. Paddy's Day parties in his apartment. He especially loved the "Kiss me I'm Irish" shirts and would use them to chat up every woman he could. He had never had corned beef or seen green beer in his life until coming here. He said when he was growing up, you went to church then stayed at home with your family. I always thought that if an immigrant culture wanted to be accepted in their host country, they should do what the Irish did, find a cultural celebration, throw a parade, add alcohol to the party and invite everyone to join in.

[@melissaharris3890]

'We have food and booze'. Come join us.

[@crylox8111]

a nice read, three years later

[@angelakilgannon4611]

Some cultures just like to spread hate, blame everyone for their problems, make demands to be more important, all self pity....poor me me me me me & what about me me me me. Makes you sick, they should toughen up. The Irish are not cry babies, make no demands, don't expect anyone to give them handouts. So proud of the irish, they are independent people 👏👏👏❤❤❤🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@HemlockRidge]

I'm Irish today. The rest of the year I'm Prussian. Actually; American. Actually Pennsylvanian.

[@melissaroscher1080]

Wow never heard someone call themselves prussian, typically especially today they'd say Polish or east German. Historically accurate and geographically accurate. Written by an descendent of 2 Hannoverian lines.

[@kendavis8046]

Being a Texan that is married for many years to a Pennsylvanian-born gentle-lady, I can concur, we're both of the whole-hearted American sentiment!

[@HemlockRidge]

@@melissaroscher1080 I normally don't call myself German. I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm Bavarian.

[@HemlockRidge]

@Ron Lewenberg Deutsch. Family from Barth on the Baltic. Now it's Pomerania.

[@ceez241]

😆

[@kohl2080]

My grandfather came through Canada from Ireland. But at the end of the day I'm an American.

[@mescko]

Hey, that's *my* last name!

[@tineryn]

While I agree that Americans love a party... From my personal experience, I feel there's a bit missing from this explanation. Most of American culture was based on immigrant communities, which were very separated from one another in the 18th and 19th centuries. As such it became really important for people in those communities to find ways to differentiate themselves and keep their heritage alive through cultural traditions. So because there was such a strong presence of Irish Americans--especially Catholic ones--St. Patrick's Day became an important opportunity for them to celebrate their (my?) heritage. And now, those traditions have in many ways bled together, so people celebrate those traditions (or at least that culture's alcohol) regardless of whether they are themselves descended from it.

[@chairde]

Its a lot of fun. Everybody can claim to be Irish and it kind of marks the change of seasons here on the east coast.

[@joker167able]

I can claim to be Irish 🤗

[@chairde]

Nasty Nate Good☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@rwbimbie5854]

In the US, the Irish invite everyone to be Irish for that day. Very minor difference, but some folks get bent out of shape about social justice stuff

[@jamesware5100]

KISS ME IM IRISH oh wait social distancing. just text me something sexy !!

[@BadgerCheese94]

This year we are having a WHITE St. Patricks Day in the Upper Midwest. In like a lion, I spose?

[@MichaelMikeTheRussianBot]

It's also big in Spain too, for some reason. One of my co-workers lost a shoe in Barcelona, running from angry drunk Spaniards. He doesn't remember why. ;)

[@baxpiz1289]

MichaelMike The Russian Bot Because Milesians.

[@daniellewhitman3921]

Three words, Irish soda bread~

[@killgoretrout3671]

Danielle Whitman yum

[@WelshRabbit]

It's hugely popular in San Francisco, too. Everybody in San Francisco is Irish on St Patrick's Day.

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

Welsh Rabbit Gay Irish

[@gtpcruiser02]

So glad to hear Saint Patrick's Day isn't Politically Incorrect in San Francisco! LMAO!

[@sststr]

In the Babylon 5 episode "A Late Delivery From Avalon", the basic storyline is that a guy comes on board the space station believing he is King Arthur. This King Arthur guy and one of the regular characters, G'Kar, are drinking at a bar on the station and after a while G'Kar passes out drunk. Arthur: Sir Gawain had the same problem, you know. Marcus: Did he? Arthur: Oh, yes. Come the morning we'd often take one look at him and called him the Green Knight.

[@NA-ck6cz]

Population of Ireland & Northern Ireland: 5 million Americans of Irish descent: 33 million

[@galoglaich3281]

NA 6.8 million actually 5million in the republic and 1.8 in the north .

[@NA-ck6cz]

@@galoglaich3281 irrelevant

[@julieenslow5915]

There are more people of Irish descent in the US than in Ireland. Both Irelands. That's the answer to your question. The rest of us just love a party, and since our friends are doing it... of course we join in!

[@julieenslow5915]

@Nathan Mcilveen Well I certainly didn't mean to upset you, it was a lighthearted reply. I can understand why it upsets you - a little - so why don't you post a sign at the ports and airports: "If you leave - you are no longer of Irish descent." That will fix it!

[@julieenslow5915]

@Nathan Mcilveen No no - you win. All Irish leaving Ireland for any reason must sever all ties, memories and obligations to Ireland forever. Therefore, you have no relatives over here.

[@slipstreamxr3763]

@@julieenslow5915 How about every american that isn't Native has no ethnicity or Ancestry of any kind and should just pretend their ancestors never existed. My great, Great grand parents were Irish and German on my my mother's side they were Polish and Russian. I do not claim to be from any of those countries I'm and American and glad of it , but to pretend that my ancestors never existed and their struggles to leave their homelands and come to America to build a better life for themselves and their descsendents is an insult to their memories. My Irish ancestors were forced to board the coffin ships and come to America due to the famine. They left their homeland and their own families behind in a desperate act of survival. The Famine was to many Irish Americans what the Trail of Tears is to the Cherokee, so don't pretend for a minute that I don't understand my own ancestry. I'm quite glad my ancestors left Ireland because it seems my own distant kin over there are more dismissive to me and their own families struggles than most strangers.

[@julieenslow5915]

@@slipstreamxr3763 Let me introduce you to a concept: sarcasm. I introduced the idea that people of Irish descent who left Ireland were no longer of Irish descent - because the current residents of Ireland were upset to know that there were more people of Irish descent in America than in all of both Irelands. They were so upset. Then you come along and probably didn't read the whole thread (I don't blame you) and got offended. Frankly, I don't blame you - you are one of those they are fussing about. You are of Irish descent but their point is that doesn't make you Irish. Which of course is fine, you are an American an proud of it. But they seem to suggest, well just ignore that. Almost all Americans have blood from many places. And to be very honest - that includes the Native Americans who immigrated long ago. The good news is, after awhile, if those that are currently Irish don't want to admit your Irish blood is meaningful - you can just smile, and be glad that your mixed bloodlines of Irish and German and Polish and Russian means that you are stronger for it - which is a gift they gave you. You can honor your ancestors as you will. Just know to go back to any of the old country to look for ties - may not get the hoped for reception. Those that stayed behind and had their own problems seem to resent those that did not stay behind and suffer what they did. And they don't want to hear about the problems those that left had to suffer. But we - their descendants - do care.

[@tw9977]

@@julieenslow5915 there’s actually more Americans of German decent then Irish. LOTS of german Americans don’t even celebrate shit like mayfest and all that lot, which is traditionally German, think it’s just an excuse to get pissed

[@brianburns7211]

I think part of the celebration is because of the large Irish population, especially in cities like New York or Boston. They were persecuted when they arrived. I think the holiday celebrates the prominence that the Irish have achieved.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

DON'T PARTAKE IN ST PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS TODAY IF YOU'RE NOT IRISH!!! and today laura ingraham, sean hannity, kelly anne conway are all irish catholic hispanic haters AND OK WITH.....kids in cages, shooting at migrants with machine guns at the border and a military invasion of venezuela. IRISH PEOPLE ARE HYPOCRITES.........

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

@OceanBlue oh so, the east germans who fled through the berlin wall were criminals as well?......THEY WERE ARYAN & WHITE!! THESE PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THEIR OPPRESSIVE COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF THE USA and the CIA installing banana republic dictators in latin america. these people have to shit & piss in outhouses while westerners can have sewers, toilets and toilet paper. JUST ADMIT IT IRISH AMERICANS HATE HISPANICS UNLESS THEY HAVE A 99 MPH FASTBALL OR COME WITH A PU AND LAWNMOWERS. EAST GERMANS BROKE THE LAW TOO. The POTUS'S GF Should been deported too for claim jumping and prostitution racketeering but that's OK because he's white and rich. TRUMP WILL INVADE VENEZUELA.....THANKS IRISH BACKSTABBERS.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

@OceanBlue EVERY FUCKING BIT OF IT'S TRUE.......DON'T CELEBRATE ST PATRICK'S DAY IF YOU'RE NOT WHITE!!!! STAY DRY AND STAND DOWN!!

[@danieldunlap4077]

@@richardalvarado-ik9br I'm pretty sure that attitude is what they call prejudice. Prejudging people if you need a definition.

[@cyborgblowfish4875]

@OceanBlue So if a family comes here for political asylum the children get put cages. No wonder it has the highest incarceration rate in the world. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States. No, Im wrong its because we arrested fellow citizens.

[@kcmozart]

I am not only celebrating St Patrick's Day, I am also celebrating my birthday.

[@kateri17]

Me too! Happy Birthday!!

[@violetgruner707]

We love anything Irish. The Irish have a rebellious nature much like Americans (kicking out the Brits). And their sense of humor, friendly personality is very American. We just have more in common.

[@cpj93070]

You wouldn't even be a country without Britain.

[@sway_9803]

​@@cpj93070 lol Spain, France, Germany, and the Dutch we're there too they just held on longer and did a better job than the Brits eat your heart out.

[@cpj93070]

@@sway_9803 😂😂Like f*ck they did, Britain whenever you like it or not made you, you were mostly all British anyway, that's why English is the main language of the US, not Spanish, French, Dutch or German.

[@pinchtwo654]

⁠​⁠@@cpj93070I feel like a lot of Americans have a negative opinion of the British because of what they were taught in school regarding our war of independence. A lot of them may have never even met a British person in real life. Interestingly enough, my grandfather (the son of Irish immigrants to the US) fought in WWII alongside the British army in the Western front, and he never had an unkind word to say about the British. He didn’t regard them as historical oppressors or adversaries, he regarded them as modern allies, because he wasn’t living in a past which he never experienced himself. The tendency of some Americans to hold a grudge against the British is really old and played out by now.

[@henryhall9623]

​@@cpj93070let's put that another way: America is a country IN SPITE of Britain. Fixed it for ya!🇺🇸

[@countertenor5890]

There's a big scene of a st. Patrick's day parade in Ferris Bueller's Day off which was set in Chicago.

[@countertenor5890]

Yeah, you're right. Hence the song Danke Schoen

[@countertenor5890]

@@cantankeroushousewife2942 yeah, you're right. Hence the song Danke Schoen.

[@PajamaPantsTheater]

Well, although my last name is Italian, I'm about 1/2 Irish from my mom. In fact, I'm about 4 hours into cooking corned beef and cabbage... ;)

[@gtpcruiser02]

Same here! Mom is Irish Dad is Italian!

[@richardcramer1604]

Jamie, did you know that the traditional St Patty corned beef and cabbage meal also originated here in America. American Irish borrowed from their Jewish neighbors (fellow ghetto residents) in NYC.

[@uncreativename1804]

youre american

[@danieldeburgh8437]

No one in Ireland eats corned beef amd cabbage. Corned beef is revolting. We eat bacon and cabbage with potatoes, much nicer.

[@baxpiz1289]

Richard Cramer Sit down, it's St. Paddy.

[@mermaid1717]

You wear green so you don't get pinched... though my cousin from Philadelphia & friend from Chicago have never heard of this. But everywhere else US I've been that's the way.

[@archenema6792]

"Pinched"! Most be those Irish Travelers at it again. ;)

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Mer Maid Ugh, I hated that as a kid and I hate it now! Especially when people really pinch the crap out of you! Maybe I’m just a big baby about it, but I have chronic pain. Stuff that should be “uncomfortable” usually registers as pain, like a blood pressure cuff tightening is painful for me. So when people really go for it, it really is a problem. I keep lidocaine on hand to apply to the really bad spots. Like... if you HAVE to do it, be gentle maybe. I just avoid going out on it to avoid crazy pinchers. 😂

[@bkwurm1]

In MN. Never heard of the pinching thing before either.

[@mollymurphy6862]

I remember as a kid being pinched on birthdays, "a pinch to grow an inch" by sadistic adults. Mostly a joke and didn't actually get pinched.

[@mermaid1717]

@@mollymurphy6862 I always remember getting birthday licks ie.. Spankings.. for our birthdays in school. You got one for how many years old you were then one extra "for one to grow on." So funny.. that would be abuse or inappropriate touching today. And it was justna fun game the teachers would do in front of the whole class. Of course they didn't really hit/spank you.. just more of the motion & a little pat on the butt.

[@april4244]

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I am proud of my Irish heritage! However, even prouder to be an Irish/Italian American! Slainte!

[@gtpcruiser02]

Thank You! I'm also Irish Italian and proud of it. Irish Italian Americans always mixed well and created large loving Christian families. Though they always remembered their original roots they assimilated well in America.

[@philipm06]

Never mind dear.

[@uncreativename1804]

you're just an american

[@theirishrepublic6130]

@@uncreativename1804 your right UP THE IRA

[@birdnibba2382]

@@uncreativename1804 Ignorant and racist statement

[@g.moeller308]

St Patrick is one of my favorite historical figures. Captured in a slave raid as a pre-adolescent, his faith developed during years of deprivation and solitude. After his escape to Gaul, he became a priest. He voluntarily returned to the land of his enslavement where his message of compassion resulted in a flood of conversions. Copyist culture at the monasteries that resulted was directly responsible for the survival of many classical documents that would otherwise have been lost forever when the great library at Alexandria burned. As a Buddhist, I have no chauvinistic motivation for my admiration. St. Patrick was simply an extraordinary individual.

[@mdschonmic8617]

Happy St. Patrick's Day Laurence and everyone!!! Hope your day is going great 😁🍻🤝

[@fat_boy_runs_it5082]

Actually super pumped your wearing Indy 11. Love the Indy pride!

[@295g295]

Indy 11? .. a soccer team in the United Soccer League Championship

[@jaklumen]

Mostly Danish heritage here, married to a Heinz 57 that has a predominant slice of Dane as well. She made a shirt that says "Bite Me, I'm A Danish" a few years ago, and we've rather decided to put a Viking spin on the holiday, of late. No booze- we're of one of those teetotaling religions that has a dietary law against it.

[@DPS31762]

I have some Irish ancestors, plus today's my birthday. So happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

[@DelGuy03]

I love hearing that Laurence has retained his British pronunciation of "Saint."

[@stevenvarner9806]

My own Brown ancestors (my mother's maiden name) were Ulster Scots ("Scots-Irish"), and so were other ancestors including McClure, Stormont, and Fannin surnames. These folks may have lived in Northern Ireland for quite a few decades before migrating to the U.S. They were of course ethnically Scottish Presbyterians. Not all came of their own volition. It was primarily in the 19th century that ethnically Irish people migrated to the U.S.

[@Metis1971]

The “Irish” ancestry I grew up hearing about turned out to be mostly ‘Scots-Irish’ too, and for the most part having lived there not even a full generation. When I finally made it to Ireland I had come to the realization that I had very little actual Irish ancestry but a little nonetheless. I was asked about my ancestors on a bus in Galway and explained how they were mostly Scottish Presbyterians who lived there briefly and I knew only a very little about the actual Irish ancestors I did have. The response I got was I was still Gaelic and that was good enough. LOL - very sweet of them to say.

[@cherylann9781]

92% of my DNA is Irish, Scottish and Welsh. My family has been here since the 17th Century. The other 8% is Finnish. And yes. We eat Corned Beed and Cabbage, drink Irish Whiskey and wear green.

[@cherylann9781]

I am Roman Catholic, but not by family tradition, by choice. Since my family has been here since before the Revolution and whatever original religion they brought with them, has long since been lost to history.

[@jwb52z9]

The dye industry must make a huge amount of money for St. Patrick's Day with the green beer and the green water and, I think, even green hamburger buns in some cases. Americans, as a whole, will take any reason to have a party involving a lot of drinking and being crazy. You're right about that! :)

[@tristkiss]

Count me as one of them. I took the Ancestry DNA test and found out I have 9% Irish/Scottish in me. Specifically I'm: Cameroon, Congo, & Southern Bantu Peoples 42% Benin/Togo 25% Ireland & Scotland 9% Ivory Coast/Ghana 7% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe 6% Norway 5% Nigeria 3% Sweden 1% Germanic Europe 1% Spain 1% So now I can legitimately say; Kiss Me, I'm Irish! ^_^

[@SuperDrLisa]

Wow you certainly have a lot of different areas! I'm only western (Germany 43%) and eastern Europe Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovakia etc. make up the rest.

[@AtarahDerek]

Isn't genealogy fun? So many branches to climb on the family tree. My ancestors are all from western Eurasia (just about ALL of western Eurasia), but there's still a lot to explore there. And the biggest percentage of my DNA is Celtic: 26% Irish/Scottish/Welsh/central European Celts.

[@tristkiss]

Yeah, it was pretty interesting to see just what my makeup is. I think it's great how diverse people are becoming these days. My cousin who's dad is black and mom is white has an 8yr old daughter who's dad is native American. She's got a bit of everything in her and is one of the prettiest little girls you've ever seen.

[@whitneyangelie3682]

tristkiss Damn your family comes from everywhere lol that’s a cool mix!

[@chiprbob]

My family tree includes NativeAmericans and can be traced back to England, Wales, Ireland, and Germany. However, my DNA test showed no NativeAmerican or German DNA but it did show English, Welsh, and Irish, as well as Norwegian and Finnish. I haven't traced any ancestors back to Norway or Finland yet.

[@TexasRose50]

There’s an authentic Irish pub between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor hotels. I was told by the owner(?) or manager that it was totally disassembled in Ireland, shipped over here, and built back as it was originally. And the owner even went back to Ireland to find people that would work there. He found 15, one from Britain and one from the USA. They had Irish bands playing. The whole staff was incredibly nice!! And that pub is called the Ri Ra. When visiting Las Vegas, I highly recommend going there. Oh, and the baked goat cheese on little pieces of bread was out of this world! Wish I had the recipe for it. One of the best experiences I had in Vegas.

[@PomegranateStaindGrn]

I don’t. My husband pinched me this morning.

[@bagbunny]

I forgot about it. Just got pinched by a friend at the grocery store.

[@lessefrost]

Beer and soccer is a solid way to celebrate St Patrick's day! Had fun yesterday just down I74 in Cincinnati in the same way! Hopefully Indy gets their new stadium soon

[@maryannlyons5695]

Happy St Patrick’s Day☘️

[@100GTAGUY]

I don't necessarily celebrate it now, but i sorta did when I was younger because of school. I suppose the only way I do celebrate it is by making some corned beef n cabbage, which I love.

[@PockASqueeno]

My grandmother has always said "warsh" instead of "wash." Now I'm wondering if she has any Irish heritage...although I'd always heard my maternal family has mostly German heritage...

[@TheySt0leMyUserName]

When I was in first grade I misspelled "wash" on a test because I sounded it out

[@TheySt0leMyUserName]

@So Who's the Dummy Now? Michigan, but my grandma (I only noticed she and my dad's family said it) was from southern Illinois, not far from St Louis

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

thank you.....I've always wondered where the 'r' in warsh came from. Your videos are amazing....not only entertaining and funny, but also very informative. I follow Shaun, Those Two Brits, and Irish Girl Dianne Jennings.....and you are now my favorite Brit-on-KZbin.

[@jesseberg3271]

The reason we celebrate it is because we started out thinking like the British, that being Irish was something to be ashamed of. Then Irish Americans got the rest of us really drunk and reminded us that we don't like the British. That seemed, at the time, like a good point; and by the time our hangovers wore off we had a new national tradition.

[@christinah.8504]

I just love that it's almost a harbinger for spring. I'm not Irish but still decorate my house with St. Patrick day flags.

[@Evil_Chronic]

Well most of my family is part Irish, which is why we celebrate it. I even have a red beard to prove it.

[@philipm06]

And gingernuts.

[@tazepat001]

My family is German decent and we all have red facial hair but not red hair. Very unusual.

[@futurez12]

Red hair doesn't "prove" you're Irish, lol. I realize you may have said that in jest but just in case, haha. I have jet black hair and I'm over half Irish genetically, there are multiple Irish surnames in our family and my immediate family grew up just across the water in England. I find it curious that anyone with even a hint of Irish/Scottish ancestry immediately proclaim themselves Irish or Scottish, when actually, for the majority of them, they're probably as much (or more) English or Welsh, yet nobody seems to mention it, lol. I feel like you're just where you're born and raised. I feel 100% English having been born and raised in England, despite having a relatively low amount of English genetics. I would never dream of claiming to be Irish even though I'm genetically more Irish than the average NI citizen. If I went to Ireland and started telling everyone I'm Irish I'd be at best laughed out of the country, at worst beaten up, then thrown into the Irish sea. Maybe that's because I have an English accent, perhaps an American would get away with it? I don't know. BTW, I saw a KZbin video where an Irish guy came out 100% Irish in a genetic test and had the blackest hair I've ever seen, pale AF, but not a single ginger hair in sight.

[@richardsuggs8108]

Spot on about Savannah, Ga. Also Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. celebrate the day.

[@cheetahrose97]

I have always liked Irish culture even though I don't think I'm descended from any Irish ancestry. I am wearing my green Michigan State shirt today, mostly because my mom always said that if you don't wear green on St. Patrick's day then you will get pinched.

[@teambeining]

I live in Dublin, Ohio, and it is very Irish-based. We have a huge Irish Festival every summer. It was actually settled by German immigrants, but started taking on an Irish identity in the early 1900’s as a marketing ploy 😂. Anyway, it’s a great place to live ❤️🍀

[@teambeining]

Yes, my friend lives in London 😂

[@FireCracker3240]

Hello! Happy St. Patrick's Day! I remember growing up, always pretending to be Irish. But then again, I have red hair, so I was like "Oh, eff it. I'm Irish all year long."

[@seanmackey1469]

I'm a Canadian but my dad is off the boat from Belfast. We have a St. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE in Toronto too

[@paulascaglione9701]

I just had a Shamrock Shake a few minutes ago!

[@christinedorman3383]

Thanks once again, M. brown, for an excellent video. Although my name doesn't sound at all Irish, my ancestry is almost completely Irish. My mother's grandmother and aunt immigrated from Co. Leitrim, Ireland to the US (ending up in Brooklyn, NY) in the very early 1900's. My father's parents immigrated shortly thereafter to Brooklyn from Port Glasgow, Scotland, but their parents and other relatives were all from Ireland (Co. Antrim and Co. Down. St. Patrick's has always been an important day to me. As a child, it was a way to celebrate my family's cultural identity and traditions. It became more significant to me in my twenties when I studied the history of Ireland and the discrimination and violence that the Famine Irish suffered in the U.S. in the mid-to-late nineteen century. To those Irish and their children, St. Patrick's Day was a day for them to proclaim their pride in being Irish and in celebrating by singing /playing Irish trad. and wearing green in a country (the US) which had a political party called the Know-Nothing Party whose main platform was ridding the US of the Irish, just as The Orange Society back in Ireland had tried to "extirpate the race," i.e. the native Gaelic Irish as opposed to the Anglo-Irish. I'll leave it there as don't want to get too much into politics and past conflicts. Also, I have nothing against the Anglo-Irish of today or their American descendants. I just am spending time this St. Patrick's Day praying for the people in Northern Ireland as well as those in the Republic that Brexit, the Backstop, and so forth will not disrupt the peace that has been attained--and which has held for over 20 years--between the green and the orange. Beannachtai agus siochain! (Sorry. i can't access special characters when I'm on KZbin.) Happy St. Paddy's Day!

[@maryhildreth754]

My mother's maiden name was O'Shields. So yeah, I have Irish ancestry. ETA, the 19th is St Joseph's day.

[@joker167able]

I like watching Conan O'Brien...so I have Irish ancestry 😓

[@theirishrepublic6130]

Your ma has an ancient irish surname

[@BaddAtom]

St.Patrick would love you vid. thanks

[@shanehalpin8286]

Wasn't a famine, it was only a single crop failure, Britain took the rest of the food.

[@bob_._.]

Famine is a general lack of food, not necessarily a general failure of all agriculture. In the mid-1800s most of the actual farmers in Ireland were tenant farmers with personal garden plots so small that only potatoes would produce enough food to feed their families and livestock; the other crops belonged to the landlords. Britain didn't so much *take* the rest of the food as the Irish government at the time did not restrict exports as they had done during the crop failures of the 1780s, so the landlords (being good little capitalists) continued to sell to the British market to the detriment of their workers. So although it was a failure of only one single crop, it was THE crop that fed the majority of the population, and it was indeed a famine.

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

Jay Whyeff Fahk off. 26 plus 6 equals 1

[@jkfeatherranch]

It was actually a few crop failures, not just one.

[@cupcake8867]

Jay Whyeff There were reports of food being offered to Irish people. If and only if they abandoned Catholicism. That appeared in a documentary on PBS. They presented it as a known fact.

[@rye-the-man9734]

@@bob_._. or holdormore being a famine that was human made.

[@flakeyjake3339]

And then, some of us celebrate St. Patrick's Day because our sweet and wonderful son was born on that day. Happy Birthday, Jakey!!

[@FireCracker3240]

OMG, Presbyterians IS an Anagram for Britney Spears!! #mindblown

[@jkfeatherranch]

Wow

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Holy goodness it’s true! I... I don’t quite know what to think! 😅 What do I believe anymore!?!? 😭

[@despaahana]

I'm an Irish US citizen!🤙🏽

[@catsupchutney]

Because the Germans ruined Steuben Day with two world wars, so the only beerfest left is St. Patrick's.

[@bradleyhoyt3188]

No... I have witnessed many Oktoberfest parades here in the state of Iowa. Lol

[@bribartman8578]

The big parade in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is a Steuben"s Day parade.

[@KairuHakubi]

hey the first one wasn't their fault, and the second one was the fault of europe's reaction to the first one, so..

[@blueguitar4419]

My last name is Shortall, a name that comes conspicuously from Ireland. My ancestors came through New York and settled in Chicago like so many

[@jeffstumpf9129]

According to my DNA test results I'm 28% Irish. That, in itself doesn't make me an expert on all things Irish, but I feel I must point out your use of the four-leaved shamrock in your thumbnail isn't Irish. You see the origin of the three-leaved shamrock is from the story of St. Patrick using it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish as he converted them to Christianity. That is one of the images used to represent Ireland to this day, not the "lucky" four-leaved clover. It's an important, and meaningful distinction.

[@TexasRose50]

Had no idea about the clover 🍀. Thank you for that information!

[@madiantin]

I'd never heard of St. Patrick's Day until I moved over here and was really confused by it. I didn't understand why everyone was so excited about what seemed like an Irish holiday. People were all, "You're not wearing green!" and I'd be "....but...I don't like green." I was even more confused when it was explained the holiday was to celebrate Irish ancestry. "But...I'm English...not Irish.." Over time I've got used it. Still don't wear green though.

[@eddietorres1000]

I took a DNA Test and I'm Mostly From Spain and Native American but I Am 5% Irish, Welsh and Scottish

[@uncreativename1804]

that means nothing

[@birdnibba2382]

@@uncreativename1804 it means he has ancestry from those countries dumbass

[@vkillion]

I'm loving the Indy Eleven pullover. You should come back to Indy sometime and come to a match. I've got season tickets and will most likely be there.

[@guybythedoor88]

Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day as the day the patron saint of Ireland, who drove the snakes from Ireland, is remembered by the Irish who were driven from Ireland by the famine to America. [also it is easier to say TINTING the river green]

[@LRod1959]

sojo.net/articles/saint-patrick-druids-and-snakes-truth-middle

[@LRod1959]

Patrick was a part of a genocidal group that wiped out the Druids of Ireland. I don't celebrate genocide.

[@guybythedoor88]

@@LRod1959 then don't. Celebrate famine!

[@LRod1959]

@@guybythedoor88 well that's clever... yay! People starved! /s

[@SuperDrLisa]

Here in RI we celebrate both St. Patrick's Day and in 2 days St. Joseph's Day. St. Joseph's day is very celebrated by our Italian American citizens. Zeppole is the pastry made to celebrate St. Joseph's Day.

[@RoxieLuna]

My grandmother died before I was born when my dad was 13 so even he wasn't close to her side of the family. Everyone used to say she was Irish her last name was Quinn. I never knew if that was true or not. I took an ancestry DNA test and it said I was 86% English/Welsh/Scottish and 14% Irish. Maybe it was part true 🤷

[@gtpcruiser02]

Quinn is a very Irish name!

[@jpadan2172]

Big name around CoTyrone NIrelamd. Around the shores of Lough Neagh Ardboe especially, had relatives that name from there.

[@stephen761]

I am of Irish ancestry My Family name, my mother was half Irish, My father's family still have family and land and homestead in Ireland. I was born an Irish Catholic, and my family has always celebrated the holiday. We traditionally celebrate with first church in the morning, and then festivities with friends at our chosen club, then when my mother was still with us would gather at her table for a huge feast of corned beef, Cabbage, typically red potatoes, and southern cornbread. Usually, we would open that said table to all friends that we could drag with us to help us eat this gargantuan meal.

[@donparkison4617]

Scotch Irish here. St Patricks is really more of an Irish Catholic thing, but we drink Guinness and have Corned Beef and cabbage just the same.

[@archenema6792]

Ulster Scots myself. Whatever the politics, I love Guinness, even though most of what we get here supposedly comes from the Red Stripe plant in Jamaica.

[@Joseph4499]

My family migrated from the area around Dublin Ireland and settled in the foothills of North Carolina in the early 1700s and we are still here today.

[@teenystudioflicks1635]

We came as Ulster Scots and settled and became landowners in North Carolina also. Many of us are on the west coast now after following the pioneer trail to Oregon as did most.

[@eddiepiszczek4820]

This is kind of long, but well thought out by Motorcyco Beau Rooney...... Years ago I had a Biker from Eire who said if we felt so strong about being Irish then we should come to Ireland... He misunderstood who we are and I responded... This is NOT about banging on about Ireland or about how great it is but rather about us being descendants of the Irish race. It is about the often horrific cost paid by our antecedents to make homes and build new lives in foreign and often hostile lands. It is about demanding the respect for our contribution in building some of the greatest countries in the world including Canada & the United States. You most likely can walk or drive to honor your ancestors in some church yard or at the least search out their individual names and "Know" them better but for many of us in the Americas... Our ancestors are buried in unmarked graves, the victims of being "transported" to Canada in the Coffin Ships...Every day in Quebec as commuters travel over the Victoria Bridge they drive over the mass grave of over 6,000 Irish..Our Irish, not yours! The Rideau Canal, deemed a 'World Heritage Site" took the lives of over 1300 Irish men women and children all of most were simply dragged off a few hundred yards and buried in an unmarked grave. In both countries we built railroads over 3000 miles long and once again many died and were merely buried along the side and their families could never visit their grave sites. We built the great cities of the North American Continent and our families served in the American Civil War where our dead were stacked like endless piles of cord wood. Later they fought valiantly in both World Wars and in dozens of other foreign countries around the world like Vietnam, Korea. It is not so 'laughable" that we wish to see that our place in history is appreciated. You live in Ireland surrounded by a majority of people like yourself.. You are"Irish"... But we live in lands surrounded by dozens of other cultures and races and we are thus deemed "THE Irish" ...Big difference!

[@scottmcmullen6782]

Lots of Irish-Americans in the Boston area particularly. In many areas, Saint Patrick's Day is much less noticeable. Some years, I forget it altogether. Cinco de Mayo and Octoberfest are much more visible in Texas.

[@thelasticonoclast9467]

The same answer for any day that Americans celebrate: It’s an excuse to have a party!

[@briankelly85]

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! From NYC...

[@alienordaquitania5579]

I’m from Northern Ireland and the way I’m celebrating is by getting very drunk at the pub and complaining about Brexit and abortion laws

[@negf22]

Us citizens, my husband is mostly Irish with some welsh thrown in on his mothers side. I am what is called " heines 57"---yes, there is some Irish/Scotch/English---but mostly German and a mishmash of other Northern Europe mixed in . DNA tests are a hoot---sometimes nothing like what one expects.

[@kpmac2971]

Laurence, my Scots-Irish family traces our Ulster lineage back to 1627 at Jamestown. We are "Orange Irish", but we still celebrate St. Pat's Day out of respect for our Dublin friends. (Forget the Guinness. I'll go for corned beef and cabbage.) We still have a large Scots-Irish family heritage in Virginia centered around Roanoke with several places carrying my family name. My branch of the family migrated west through Tennessee and Missouri, eventually populating Texas and California. The nineteenth century wave of Irish came through Boston and New York, and ended up populating the Midwest, including Hoosierland where I live. (I have little in common with the "newcomers" though.) Three years ago, I celebrated St. Pat's Day in Kinsale, Ireland at The White Lady. Quite different, but still a lot of fun. I bet you didn't know that the drainage canals in New Orleans were built primarily by Irish immigrants. Ever since then, the Irish have outnumbered the French and Spanish in that city. And I bet you haven't made the connection between the similar sounds of the Appalachia fiddle and bagpipes, have you? So my question to you today is, "Why can't we get genuine Guinness in 'Murica?" The stuff over here does not taste anything like the genuine brew in Ireland.

[@kpmac2971]

And, for the record, I must make note of your Indy Eleven red shirt.

[@SuperDrLisa]

Same with German beer. The only time I ever really drank beer and enjoyed it was in Germany on vacation with the family at 16. Came home and tasted "German beer" and it was awful.

[@Boldamore]

Love the channel man. One thing I do find funny in some of the thumbnails you down right look startled at the camera.

[@declanokeeffe5088]

I’m 1/2 Irish

[@TheSniper721]

same here

[@R.M.MacFru]

Half Irish here. Shamefully, I hate beer and American potatoes. (Potatoes in Ireland taste wonderful!). I'll toast the day with a shot of the Tullamore Dew. 😉

[@gloriastroedecke2717]

R. M. MacFru Nothing shameful about not liking beer or American potatoes. Enjoy your day and your drink!

[@surveyresearch7857]

Yup, half Irish, too. From Cork to Chicago.

[@R.M.MacFru]

@@gloriastroedecke2717 ...thanks. Actually, of all beers, I can manage to drink a Guinness, but as it tastes like black licorice, I don't care for it much. (And yes, that Guinness was had in Ireland at a pub.) Sadly for me, American beer is undrinkable.

[@jshalls1983]

Very thorough. Well done sir

[@chachatunapie9490]

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Every one is allowed to be Irish on this day. Btw - wtf! Magical left had glove.

[@Rye_Toast]

I have some Irish ancestry, for our family it was a way of remembering them. We used to sing Irish folk songs when we were young. Now it's a big party, not that I''m complaining! Though every once in a while I'll hear a song and it's like a flood of memories coming back because I had forgotten it.

[@1mespud]

These types of ethnic holidays is actually to celebrate and recognize the contributions from it's poor and middle class..

[@3Authoress]

I’m Scots-Irish descent and I love my heritage. My family has celebrated it generations back because it’s a family tradition. But it’s also just fun to have a party, wear green, tease and pull pranks on each other, and tell goofy stories about each other. We just threw a neighborhood party last night for St Patrick’s Day. Everyone brought food, Dad brought this Irish whiskey that was very popular and half gone before the end of the night, and we partied 6-11pm. No kidding. Worth it.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

AND YOU PROBABLY LOVE TRUMP AND HATE ME....

[@3Authoress]

@@richardalvarado-ik9br I'm sorry. But what do you (someone I don't even know) or an idiot like Trump have to do with literally ANYTHING I posted in my comment? At all?

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

@@3Authoress IF YOU'RE NOT WHITE DON'T CELEBRATE THIS DAY FROM PEOPLE WHO HATE YOU......STAY HOME AND STAY DRY!! because it's a day I no longer wish to partake in anymore many Irish catholic americans side with the blonde haired orange skinned monster......including many prominent high profile irish americans. Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly all Fox news personalities....Ted Nugent, Kid Rock are Trump supporters ( ALSO IRISH ). Many people in the MAGA MOVEMENT ARE IN FACT IRISH AMERICAN....SORRY BUT IT'S TRUE.....

[@Choctaw468]

I'm zero % Irish, but I do like to drink.

[@teambeining]

Choctaw468 Same with Cinco de Mayo. It is an American holiday mainly to give people an excuse to drink.

[@rosulli]

Hello fellow Bleach fan!

[@kylem1112]

@OceanBlue it's actually more of a mexican-american holiday. in mexico it's not as popular and it isn't exactly a "drinking holiday"

[@loisavci3382]

Chicago had an Irish-American mayor, Daley, for decades. He may have had a hand in making sure they kept on dying the Chicago River and had an excellent parade for St. Pat's.

[@ronklaus7408]

We celebrate anything that involves drinking

[@nowthatsjustducky]

It would be a travesty not to.

[@WWatch48]

I have one link to Ireland back in the 1700s, but the Irish name was carried down to my grandmother, so my dad claims to be Irish. My family isn't a party family, but even we wear green for the holiday, and for Sunday dinner have a course with cabbage and potatoes (I'd say corned beef also, but some family members aren't fans). I have some neighbors who get really crazy and dye their food green (even the potatoes). We don't go that far.

[@sststr]

I'm gonna have to say the real reasons so many Americans love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, regardless of whether they have any Irish ancestry of their own, is because Americans love to get drunk. And since the Irish have a reputation for drinking, what better excuse to get drunk than to celebrate the hard-drinking Irish?

[@cathy-pz2to]

I don't drink but I love saint patty's because I have Crawford blood from my mom although my last name is Brackat from my dad! and I wear green and I am drinking green milkshake!

[@timg3504]

Because we like to celebrate anything!

[@TheGLORY13]

I'm of German/Polish Heritage (awkward) so I feel as if I'm supposed to drink when ever I see fit.

[@misssuzq]

March 17th is also Evacuation Day in Boston. This also played a role in the celebrations.

[@johnjames529]

I believe that referring to Scottish people as "Scotch" is incorrect. Scottish, Scot or Scots is the proper term. "Scotch" is used for Scottish products like whiskey, pie and eggs.

[@maddwitch]

Whether it’s an incorrect way to refer to them or not, it’s the way they were referred to back then. Scotch Irish was the historical term.

[@johnjames529]

@@maddwitch Fair enough. I just have heard from Scottish people that they shouldn't be referred to as "Scotch."

[@melissagayheart7716]

Well my family on my mom’s side is Irish and my grandparents came from Ireland 🇮🇪 so I celebrate cause I’m proud of my heritage but of course I also do like to socialize and have fun with family and friends some good food a few drinks etc...

[@michaelsauls1142]

Don't over do it with the Guinness, your liver will thank you.

[@gregoryshorts700]

Happy St. Patrick's day to you and your family. Best of wishes , pleasent of dreams and fondest of memories for you , this i pray. Gob bless .

[@noraglp]

U should do a vid on cinco de mayo... the Mexican holiday Mexicans don't celebrate but Americans do lol. #notmexicanindependenceday

[@risalangdon9883]

You should really go visit the Appalachian area. Hearing the music and watching the dancing from the Scott-Irish traditions.

[@davevanvlerah5167]

Dude, we'll take advantage of any excuse to get pissed. I would bet that Trump even celebrates Cinco de Mayo. 😝 We are taught from an early age that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. End of story. This was quite informative, thank you. That hat! That cracks me up. That Chicago flag is the CPD symbol, and a VERY large portion of the Chicago P.D. is Irish. Myself, I am a mutt comprised of Dutch, German, Native American and French, but we are all so intertwined that it amazes me that anyone can be so xenophobic these days. Let's learn to love each other, guys. Peace.

[@gtpcruiser02]

You don't sound like a mutt to me. You sound like you're mostly European with a touch of Native American. Good show!

[@tessera5029]

Not Irish at all, but I make corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread for my love who is "a little bit Irish," and very proud. I love the history of corned beef as a staple of Irish American food. It became popular among Irish day laborers who were barred from most lunch counters, but could get a meal from the Jewish Delicatessens. A food that brought two peoples together in America.