Wednesday, March 18, 2009

How The US Celebrates St. Patrick's Day


I was talking on Twitter and realized that the British celebrate St. Patrick's day differently then we do in the states. I thought I'd just mention the basics for those in other countries, and I welcome hearing about your traditions no matter where you live. :)

In the states we wear green colored clothing even if we are not Irish. Sometimes people wear an inexpensive pin in the shape of a shamrock, or with a saying like "Luck of the Irish" etc. This was done more when I was younger. Usually families will gather together for corned beef and cabbage dinner with carrots and potatoes. Sometimes we drink green beer (food coloring.) We have parades (Rochester photos), Some go to bars (pubs.)

St. Patrick's Day is viewed as a holiday to spend time with family and friends eating & drinking, rather then being viewed as a religious holiday.

Chicago dyes its river green and has done so since 1961. I've never hear of this tradition until this year. President Obama is from Chicago and dyed the White House fountains green. Here is a video of it. Personally I don't care for green water.

As for me I spent a quiet evening eating a traditional corned beef, and cabbage dinner, and I was thirsty for green beer. How do/did you celebrate St. Patrick's day? Here is some history. For more information click here and here.

17 comments:

Tricia said...

The food looks yummy, we eat extremely low sodium here so there has been none of it for us the last few years.
I like the green water in the green lakes in Syracuse, but only because it natural.

Tabbikat's Thoughts

Cynthia said...

At the end of St. Patricks day my son asked me "What did we do that was special" Uh oh! I quickly passed him a glass of milk that I had dyed green with food coloring. "That's it?" he asked. So I googled St.Patrick and read it while he drank his disgusting green milk. I'm not Irish and I'm not Catholic so I guess I never really do anything much. This year I even forgot to wear green and was royally pinched by my sons at breakfast :)

Mike Golch said...

that plate looks great to me.yum yum!

Babs (Beetle) said...

I don't do anything. I never have, and have never known anybody that does either :O)

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Tricia,

Well, I'm suppose to be on a salt restricted diet, but I just use No Salt. That's close enough for me now. lol

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi twofinches,

"Royally pinched?" LOL! Maybe you'll remember to wear green next time. Try the corned beef dinner. It's a great food tradition.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Mike Golch,

My dinner was like that and tasted very good. ;)

Awake In Rochester said...

Babs (Beetle),

Your kidding =o0 Don't you do any celebrating in England?

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi LadyBanana,

HEY! Did you just call me drunken Irish? te he he Pass the green beer!

Mike Golch said...

AIR,I have a passionate blogger award for you on my site.

Sonnie-Dee said...

We tend to treat st paddys day like you americans. More of a novalty with peopel wearing green and putting on green hats etc.

We don't eat cabbage or corned beef but we do drink lots of guiness at the irish pubs in the city

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi S'onnie,

*raising a glass of guiness to you* ;)

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Mike Golch,

Thank you Mike!

Speedcat Hollydale said...

I had green kool aid and celery. ehhhh

Anonymous said...

I missed St Patrick's Day this year

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Speedcat Hollydale,

Well, um, it's green.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi meleah rebeccah,

Tisk, tisk! May the luck of the Irish be with you anyways!