WIXOM, Michigan – You better have been wearing green on March 17 because it’s Saint Patrick’s Day!
Americans do not honor St. Patrick the same way the Irish do. In all honesty, there are some fanatical traditions here.
First off, as mentioned, you must wear green! It’s not some sort of law but there is a punishment. For those people who do not wear green on St. Patty’s Day, they can expect a pinch! When contemplated, this is a rather silly idea.
It was originally thought that if you wore green on this day you would ward off the leprechauns from pinching you, but if you didn’t wear green, then a pinch you could expect. Now it’s just sort of a juvenile American tradition to tease people who don’t show the proper St. Patrick’s Day spirit.
Though I have never been to Ireland, I have heard that the Irish believe Americans to be certifiably insane when it comes to March 17. This is not just about the pinching.
Sitting in my World History class, I recall my teacher explaining how the Irish value this day by actually honoring Saint Patrick. He told us how Saint Patrick was a patron saint from Ireland who helped bring Catholicism to the Irish people. It seems as though the Irish spend their day in Church. I cannot say the same for Americans.
St, Patrick’s Day at the White House (Irish Embassy in DC)
To be brutally honest, another American tradition on St. Patrick’s Day is to get completely drunk.
Obviously, this is a tradition for people over 21, the legal drinking age. Some bars open before the sun comes up on St. Patrick’s Day. Driving to school at 6:45 a.m., there were limos driving around exclusively taking people to get drinks.I cannot explain why this is a tradition, but it is. Of course, most people remain sober. It seems it is mostly young adults who abuse the Irish holiday.
It is not only people who are over 21 who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
There are other ways to celebrate that are more appropriate. Many children, especially of Irish descent, get very enthusiastic about this day. They believe that perhaps finding a four leaf clover is a sign of good luck.
Some parents, such as mine, would even go to the extent to pretend that leprechauns had visited their homes. I would wake up in the morning to find my house vandalized by the “leprechauns,” leaving clever little notes around and rearranging my furniture to impractical positions. What mischievous little guys!
While young adults celebrate in a rambunctious way and children celebrate through naive fun, teenagers don’t play a very prominent role in celebrating this holiday. The focus is really on adults and children.
Some teenagers wore green on St. Patrick’s, but many students did not as a stance against conformity.
Of course, in today’s liberal society, what was once tradition is now compliance. The tradition of the pinch is escaping away, too.
There seem to be fewer people wearing green than in years past, but the number of pinches is not increasing either. It seems as though the value of green and the luck of the four leaf clover is fading as childhood fades, too.
Perhaps, the teenagers of Ireland are the strongest believers of this day, as they are the ones who will carry on this tradition, if they so choose
Maybe the teenagers of America deserve a pinch to rejuvenate their spirits and put the faith of Saint Patrick back into their hearts!
Monica Blaze is a Junior Reporter for Youth Journalism International.
