Patricks day in California

St Patrick's (or St Patty's for short) day is celebrated with corned beef brisket and cabbage....I didn't know this

All the children wear green to school/nursery, all the adults wear green, whether it be in the gym, the pool (oh yes, we have special St Patty day bathers here!), the supermarket or walking their dogs...who obviously green collars. The Leprechauns 'pinch' you during the day aka anyone can pinch anyone else and they also go into classrooms, turn chairs and tables upside down and generally sprinkle their green and gold dust/shamrocks everywhere. sounds to me like the Leprechauns have been on the sherry.....

Apparently its also an excuse to drink here - so maybe it isn't much different from the Ireland St Patrick day celebrations....

When I asked why St Patrick's is celebrated so heavily, other than the rafts of irish descendants here...one of the local lasses told me its because 'we (americans) celebrate Hallmark holidays', I hadn't heard that expression before but it rings true. St Patty's day; Halloween; 4th July; Thanksgiving....the only vaguely religious holiday is Christmas. I don't consider myself religious, but not having a long weekend over Easter feels wrong....or maybe its the thought of 'missing' a holiday which has been part of my upbringing. Part of the joy of living in a new place is finding the differences and figuring out how they sit with you. This one is working. Ciara was very excited about the Leprechauns coming and Matt couldnt object to the donning of irish shirts on both children :-)

Whereever you are ' la brea feile padraig'

Comments

[Glenda Taylor]

I am the first commentor on your blog....do I win a prize?? Happy St Paddy's day Dee. Keep the rambles a coming!

[deebates]

You are and you will.....the usual champers I assume!! Thank you and its 'super nice' to know someone is reading my rants. Hope you and your boys are well. x

[Lindsey Sampson]

Hey I read them Dee! They apparently celebrated it here yesterday as well, though it's mainly a drinking festival methinks. Aus seems like an 'America meets UK' on most things including the bank holidays with a few extra of their own thrown in. My birthday lands on Anzac Day so I get a bank holiday weekend for that ;) and we do get Good Friday and Easter Monday- doesn't America 'do' Easter then? How bizarre.....

[bart]

why wasn't Matt donning an irish shirt

[Simon]

Well I don't read them and I fully expect more people to add similar comments when they too don't read.

[Mary Donegan]

Dee
Just keep them coming - great to see you are still enjoying yourselves

[Rachel Hill]

I'm not sure I even realised it was St Patrick's Day! Ooops!

[deebates]

Mmm Rach, I can see my influence is lacking....3 hail marys and a large bottle of pinot (I will send it by courier!) :-)

[deebates]

You see Linds, its not just the Aussies who get thinks a bit different. No religious holidays because they arent politically correct - we get 'spring break' the colleges and schools all have a one week holiday any time within a 3 weeks period....very unBritish :-)
Good news on the birthday weekend.