Happy Paddy’s Day

Philly_Q

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

Kittyfrisk

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

Drink!!

Philly_Q

Yeah, but you could drink on other saints' days too.  Or instead.

Kittyfrisk

I suspect it's the reintroduction of the whole commercialised OTT thing from the USA, similarly to halloween. And drink 

robgilmo

Kittyfrisk said:

I suspect it's the reintroduction of the whole commercialised OTT thing from the USA, similarly to halloween. And drink 

I dont think it is, because if you go to Ireland on Paddys day its mental, nothing to do with mercuns, its not drink either (although it probably helps) I think its everything to do with attitude, we love a good knees up so we get stuck in and make it happen. I often hear 'why dont we celebrate St George's day' and I'm like, its up to you to go out and do it, buy some silly hats and go out and have a laugh, it really is that easy.

Leisceoir

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

A lot of Irish people immigrated after the famine and found themselves in distant foreign lands, homesick and working long hours in tough jobs. They needed something to just let loose and have fun while bringing their community together, so it became way more of an important celebration to them. 

Kittyfrisk

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day
"It was emigrants, particularly to the United States, who transformed St. Patrick’s Day into a largely secular holiday of revelry and celebration of things Irish. Cities with large numbers of Irish immigrants, who often wielded political power, staged the most extensive celebrations, which included elaborate parades."

https://www.history.com/news/is-st-patricks-day-celebrated-in-ireland
"Meanwhile, back in the old country, where until the 1970s pubs were closed on St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish are catching up to their counterparts across the pond when it comes to revelry. Since the mid-1990s, the government, in part to promote tourism and boost the economy, has sponsored a multi-day St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, featuring a parade and a variety of performances and activities; there are similar events in other sections of the country as well."

Just saying  

Offset

Kittyfrisk said:

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

Drink!!

...plus feck and girls?!

TeleMaster

Offset said:

Kittyfrisk said:

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

Drink!!

...plus feck and girls?!

And arses.

ESBlonde

TeleMaster said:

Offset said:

Kittyfrisk said:

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

Drink!!

...plus feck and girls?!

And arses.

A distinct lack of potato festivities, another of modern life’s stories that wasn’t.

AK99

Devil#20 said:

Nah. Not for me. Nobody celebrates St George's day so why would I celebrate their patron saint. The Irish blew up Manchester in '96. The Irish have never liked us. 

Ouch. That's not entirely true..we like the odd one or two of yez

motorhead

AK99 said:

Devil#20 said:

Nah. Not for me. Nobody celebrates St George's day so why would I celebrate their patron saint. The Irish blew up Manchester in '96. The Irish have never liked us. 

Ouch. That's not entirely true..we like the odd one or two of yez

True enough, and I’m far too close to one in particular to be bothering with hangovers of the past. A past that goes quite a way back and is best left there as many of us could relate stories that are very real and not a bit cool.

motorhead

As for the ahem annual spectacle, we had our best ever this year. On a beach near Barcelona, totally oblivious lol.

robgilmo

motorhead said:

As for the ahem annual spectacle, we had our best ever this year. On a beach near Barcelona, totally oblivious lol.

I tried busking in Barcelona in the mid 90's, I got a sausage and a bagette, the diablo guys got all the coin!

Creed_Clicks

Devil#20 said:

TeleMaster said:

blobb said:

He was Welsh ...

It's not relevant. He's the patron saint of Ireland because he brought Christianity to the Irish, who seemed to bloody love it. 

They love anybody who hates the English.

Stop being a prick @Devil#20 ; . What if I said "The English" raped loads of kids in the 70s. No! That was Jimmy Saville actually, not "The English". You're avatar photo is an Irish man as well you clown.

Pjon

Jfingers said:

My maternal grandparents were slightly injured in the Guildford bombings whilst out shopping.

I am puzzled by this. The bombs went off in the evening, mid 70s. Where were they going shopping? Nothing was open until about 1984!  

Devil#20

Creed_Clicks said:

Devil#20 said:

TeleMaster said:

blobb said:

He was Welsh ...

It's not relevant. He's the patron saint of Ireland because he brought Christianity to the Irish, who seemed to bloody love it. 

They love anybody who hates the English.

Stop being a prick @Devil#20 ; . What if I said "The English" raped loads of kids in the 70s. No! That was Jimmy Saville actually, not "The English". You're avatar photo is an Irish man as well you clown.

You've called me a prick and a clown and they are personal insults which are against forum rules. Where in my posts did I say I don't like the Irish? I've never been over to Ireland but my views are based on my experience growing up in Manchester. I've witnessed the antagonism and nastiness (sometimes first hand) even before the bombing of Manchester City centre. If you were English there were and probably still are no go areas of Manchester with large Irish communities into which you wouldn't venture. Collections for the IRA were commonplace in lots of pubs. I'll admit it's not all Irish obviously but, in my personal experience, it's the significant majority. It's never been anything like that with Welsh or Scottish (and I'm sure they don't all like the English either). Personally, I don't see why we can't all get on and leave religion behind. Getting back to the subject of Paddy's day. I don't celebrate any patron saints days. I'd like to have a bank holiday on St George's day and I'd make better use of it than just going out and getting right royally pissed. I was at Old Trafford on Sunday and in the pub afterwards. I'm sure there were quite a few Irish in there as we have a large Irish following, but we're first and foremost all United fans and that tends to transcend politics and religion and the atmosphere was great. Don't remember seeing any shamrocks on either side of the bar. 

robgilmo

Devil#20 said:

Creed_Clicks said:

Devil#20 said:

TeleMaster said:

blobb said:

He was Welsh ...

It's not relevant. He's the patron saint of Ireland because he brought Christianity to the Irish, who seemed to bloody love it. 

They love anybody who hates the English.

Stop being a prick @Devil#20 ; . What if I said "The English" raped loads of kids in the 70s. No! That was Jimmy Saville actually, not "The English". You're avatar photo is an Irish man as well you clown.

You've called me a prick and a clown and they are personal insults which are against forum rules. Where in my posts did I say I don't like the Irish? I've never been over to Ireland but my views are based on my experience growing up in Manchester. I've witnessed the antagonism and nastiness (sometimes first hand) even before the bombing of Manchester City centre. If you were English there were and probably still are no go areas of Manchester with large Irish communities into which you wouldn't venture. Collections for the IRA were commonplace in lots of pubs. I'll admit it's not all Irish obviously but, in my personal experience, it's the significant majority. It's never been anything like that with Welsh or Scottish (and I'm sure they don't all like the English either). Personally, I don't see why we can't all get on and leave religion behind. Getting back to the subject of Paddy's day. I don't celebrate any patron saints days. I'd like to have a bank holiday on St George's day and I'd make better use of it than just going out and getting right royally pissed. I was at Old Trafford on Sunday and in the pub afterwards. I'm sure there were quite a few Irish in there as we have a large Irish following, but we're first and foremost all United fans and that tends to transcend politics and religion and the atmosphere was great. Don't remember seeing any shamrocks on either side of the bar. 

Your personal experience, of an entire nation? And what has religion got to do with it exactly?
Ian in fairness fella, the rest of us have put it all away and moved on, maybe its time you did the same?

AK99

Philly_Q said:

I wonder why St Patrick's Day became such a big thing, when other saints' days are pretty much ignored?

When I was in junior school, there was a bit of a fuss for St David's Day.  The girls used to dress up as traditional Welsh ladies with those tall black hats, and the boys - making all the effort, as usual - wore daffodils or leeks in our buttonholes.  I don't know if they still do that nowadays, though.

It's got b*gger all to do with religion these days - moreso the whole Irish diaspora and identity thing. It's big at home here because - believe it or not - there's a 24 hour amnesty on whatever vice or pleasure you gave up for the 40 days of Lent. ('Tis no coincidence the day is just about half way through the Lenten period). Even the most fervent chewers of the alter rails can have a day off their penance, and go and get completely hammered in public without fear of public or ecumenical censure

Pretty crap time of year for the closest we've got to a National Day, as it's usually raining and bloody freezing, so personally I'd be all in favour of moving the bl**dy thing to the middle of June or July, like most other sensible countries.

Devil#20

robgilmo said:

Your personal experience, of an entire nation? And what has religion got to do with it exactly?
Ian in fairness fella, the rest of us have put it all away and moved on, maybe its time you did the same?

I had; or at least I thought I had, before I had a personal insult aimed at me. There was no need. I qualified the 'entire nation' thing above. The original was more a clumsily used figure of speak that generalised, if taken literally, and I apologise for that. That's not what I meant.