[Leslie]

Today is March 17th, St. Patrick's Day.

Since my family is not Irish or Catholic, St. Patrick's Day was not a really big deal in our house. However, growing up near NYC, we had a huge parade, which always seemed to be made up of endless numbers of police and firemen. It wasn't until I was much older (and not living in NY anymore) that I made the connection between the huge numbers of folks of Irish descent who were police or firefighters (duh!).

In college, I was introduced to the wonders of green beer and drank quite a bit of it.

In Chicago, I was amazed to see the Chicago River dyed green. Yes, it really is green. I had never seen anything like it.

Tonight, we are having corned beef and cabbage, courtesy of my husband who has alot of "O'Dwyer" and "Donegan" in his blood.

What other memories or family traditions do people have for St. Patrick's?

L

 

[geoffthomas]

I was surprised to find that St. Patrick's Day is a BIG thing in Savanah, GA.

 

[Kathy]

My maternal Grandmother was Irish and very superstitious. We always had a big family gathering at my grandparents house and corned beef and cabbage was a must. There were 12 children, so you can imagine all of the grandchildren that was there. She lived in Kemah, TX and right across the street was a pier that all of the cousins went crabbing all day from. Of course someone always fell in the water and that was all the excuse needed for everyone to suddenly start falling in the water. My Grandmother knew that most of us didn't really want the corned beef and cabbage, so later in the day she would cook all of the crabs we caught outside in the yard. One of my great uncles would come every once in awhile and he played the bagpipes, so that was always a treat. Wonderful memories.

 

[luvmy4brats]

Not exactly St. Patrick's day, but I always think about this when I see shamrocks.

When I was in the 4th-5th grade, my best friend and I would go out to the school yard at recess and look for four-leaf clovers. Once we even found a six-leaf clover. We taped them to pieces of paper to preserve them. I think my mom still has one.

Today we're having corned beef and cabbage. The kids wanted green Koolaid, but they'll have to settle for Sprite with food coloring.

 

[busy91]

Big deal here in NYC, as he is also the patroin saint of New York.
Lots of 'Irish' people today! Everyone has on something green.

 

[Leslie]

Big deal here in NYC, as he is also the patroin saint of New York.

I didn't know that, but of course, St. Patrick's Cathedral!

L

 

[Linda Cannon-Mott]

No Irish ancestry that I know of. I do remember being stationed in VA BCH and going to an Irish Pub. It was the first time I'd ever seen or drank green beer. Thing I remember was waking up the next morning thinking why oh why did I do that??

 

[geoffthomas]

I grew up in Cleveland, OH.  The St. Pats parade there used to start from Pat Joyce's Tavern.  The city painted a green stripe on the street for the parade route and it started at the front of this establishment.  Now you know you needed to know that..............right?

 

[Leslie]

I grew up in Cleveland, OH. The St. Pats parade there used to start from Pat Joyce's Tavern. The city painted a green stripe on the street for the parade route and it started at the front of this establishment. Now you know you needed to know that..............right?

And where did it end?

L

 

[geoffthomas]

And where did it end?

L

Actually one year that I remember, the painted stripe came right back to the tavern.
I followed the stripe that year.
When single (a LONG time ago) this was one of my favorite "haunts".

 

[Ann in Arlington]

My maiden name is O'Connor.  My mother was a McCaffrey.  My dad's mom was Monahan.  I have relatives called Murphy, O'Leary, Kenagh among others.  My father's parents were born in Ireland so all of us down to my generation are eligible for Irish passports if we wanted them.  I've visited the old homestead several times. . .the family still owns land in Galway and we have a number of relatives around Dublin as well.  Family lore says my dad's uncle smuggled weapons during The Troubles around 1916.

I like Guinness.  Best served from a tap at the brewery in Dublin.  Also good in the draft cans with the widgets.  Harp and Smithwicks are also good.  No need for greenness. . .good beer is good beer!    I prefer Jameson to Bushmills whiskey. . . .hmm. . . .think I'll have some here in a bit.  Dinner tonight was leftover pasta -- but that's o.k. because St. Patrick was really the son of a Roman citizen who was a missionary to the Irish.  We had an Irish stew (lamb, potatoes, onions) and soda bread on Saturday with the family though.

Oh, and I wore green to work today. 

Ann

 

[Kathy]

My maiden name is O'Connor. My mother was a McCaffrey. My dad's mom was Monahan. I have relatives called Murphy, O'Leary, Kenagh among others. My father's parents were born in Ireland so all of us down to my generation are eligible for Irish passports if we wanted them. I've visited the old homestead several times. . .the family still owns land in Galway and we have a number of relatives around Dublin as well. Family lore says my dad's uncle smuggled weapons during The Troubles around 1916.

I like Guinness. Best served from a tap at the brewery in Dublin. Also good in the draft cans with the widgets. Harp and Smithwicks are also good. No need for greenness. . .good beer is good beer! I prefer Jameson to Bushmills whiskey. . . .hmm. . . .think I'll have some here in a bit. Dinner tonight was leftover pasta -- but that's o.k. because St. Patrick was really the son of a Roman citizen who was a missionary to the Irish. We had an Irish stew (lamb, potatoes, onions) and soda bread on Saturday with the family though.

Oh, and I wore green to work today.

Ann

My Grandmother was an O'Connor. Her family was in Stockton, MO.

 

[Vegas_Asian]

The only things my family and friends do for St Patty's day....it the whole pitch anyone (that we know) that isn't wearing green. I didn't wear green. opps.

 

[MAGreen]

I wore green knee high socks that have shamrocks on them!

 

[kevindorsey]

Before its too late, Happy Green everyone!

 

[Britt]

St. Louis does a couple of parades but I've never been.

But green is my favorite color, and St. Patrick's Day is a great excuse to wear it! Got to wear my cute green shoes for the first time today 

 

[John Steinbeck]

I wore a green shirt today   

 

[Kind]

So who had Green Beer today?? 

 

[intinst]

So who had Green Beer today??

Well, it wasn't green but does Guiness count?

 

[John Steinbeck]

Well, it wasn't green but does Guiness count?

Guinness Beer always counts !!!!