March 17, 1997
Saint Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland
When I was a kid, I'd hear my grandmother talk about how Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and I pictured him loading them into the back of a 1949 Mercury and hitting the road. I wish I'd paid more attention when she talked about the Black and Tans and independence and all that stuff. All I'm left is the silly image of St. Patrick behind the wheel and snakes poking their heads out the back seat window. Actually I do remember her telling us that in Ireland St. Patrick's Day was a holy day of obligation. Everyone went to Mass, then came home to a big family dinner. Sort of the way my family celebrated all holidays - go to Mass, have dinner or go to Mass, drink tea. Nowadays and hereabouts, St. Patrick's Day is a showcase for the worst aspects of Irish culture and an excuse for everybody to get wicked drunk. When did it stop being about a patron saint and symbol of national identity and start being about green beer?
The Ancient Order of Hibernians has put together a pretty good site about the history of Saint Patrick's Day in America . And there's a Catholic St. Patrick's Day site too.
The English don't hang people for wearing green anymore, so go for it. Wear that green.
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