Writing in Snow

Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

Word count: 321

On St. Patrick’s Day
Remember to wear the green
Or you may get pinched

Today is Wednesday, March 17, 2010, St. Patrick’s Day. Today everyone in America is suddenly Irish. It does not matter what your cultural background is because today we celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. Today we commemorate the death of St. Patrick, the man who drove the snakes out of Ireland and proclaimed Christ. However, you do not have to be Christian, Catholic, or even Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in America.

Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, on St. Patrick’s Day bars have green beer for their patrons to drink in honor of the Saint and the day. There are St. Patrick’s Day parades and everyone wears green or is supposed to wear green. St. Patrick’s Day in America is not a religious celebration; it is a day to celebrate. Traditionally people celebrated her or his Irish heritage, but since everyone in America is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day celebrate by wearing green.

When I was growing up, you had to wear green to school or anywhere you went on St. Patrick’s Day because if you did not wear green you got pinched. I am not sure where the tradition of pinching someone originated. I never understood why punishment is necessary for not wearing green on March 17. Pinching painful, but not as painful as other forms of punishment a person can receive; however, if someone pinches you hard enough they leave a bruise.

Pinching, like other forms of corporal punishment, is currently discouraged. It is still possible someone will pinch you for wearing red, blue, orange, or brown on St. Patrick’s Day because people do thing without thinking about the consequences to themselves or other people. Therefore, it is in one’s best interest to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day.

Put on the green shirt
Walk out the front door smiling
On St. Patrick’s Day