Are You Irish After St. Patrick's Day?

Every time St. Patrick's Day rolls around, I am always amazed at how many Americans suddenly decide that they have an Irish heritage, often without even researching their ancestry for the proper evidence. Now, considering the number of Irish families that migrated to the United States during the great famine back in the 1840's, and considering the fact that several generations have passed since that time, it is quite possible that many who claim an Irish background without really knowing for sure actually do have an O'Malley or an O'Brien in the blood line. On the other hand, it seems that a good many people are willing to claim whatever lineage is necessary, as long as it involves drinking gallons of green beer and stuffing themselves with corned beef and cabbage once a year.

There is certainly nothing wrong with having Irish pride. Certainly the thousands of working-class migrants who helped build the infrastructure of this country back in the 19^th century deserve all of the credit that we can give them. Setting aside St. Patrick's Day to do so seems like an appropriate thing to do. But if we are going to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, even as honorary Irishmen, let's take the time to know what it is all about. Here are a few St. Patrick's Day facts that may be worth knowing.

1. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was actually born in England in about 387 AD, was subjected to slavery in Ireland for 6 years as a youth, escaped, and then returned to Ireland as a missionary as an adult. Contrary to myth and legend, he probably did not issue a prayer that drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. More than likely, this was a reference to his opposition to the Druid religion, and the fact that many Irish were converted to Catholicism because of his efforts. March 17 actually marks the date of St. Patrick's death, not his birthday.

2. Erin go bragh. You've heard it and read it. You may have even used it as a St. Patrick's Day toast. But did you know that it is translated to mean "Ireland Forever?"

3. Corned Beef and Cabbage. Americans tend to believe that on St. Patrick's Day, the Irish settle down to what we refer to as their national dish, corned beef and cabbage. That's not quite accurate. While beef, at one time in Ireland, was considered to be a meat served only to royalty or on special meals such as Easter, many modern-day Irishmen would sooner be eating boiled bacon or some other pork product with their cabbage. Up until the last century or so, cattle were raised in Ireland, but were used more as a dairy animal, rather than a meat source. More recently, however, beef is as prevalent there as it is here, and would seem a bit commonplace for a holiday meal.

4. Getting pinched. The American tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is almost always coupled with the thought that one might get pinched if his "green" is not showing on March 17. More than likely, this was a custom invented by school children for no real reason, other than the opportunity to tweak the skin of a forgetful classmate. Even without a historical basis, the practice keeps kids amused, and it has lasted for many years.

So...what if you don't drink alcohol, don't have a green shirt or sweater, don't particularly care for cabbage, but still have a desire to honor the Irish sector of our national ancestry? You can create your own St. Patrick's Day traditions. A few simple suggestions are shown below.

a) Watch a movie about Ireland. I recommend a couple of my favorites, including The Quiet Man (John Wayne) and Darby O'Gill and the Little People (Sean Connery).

b) Purchase a shamrock plant to keep around the house. Shamrocks, a true symbol of the Irish people, are beautiful and easy to maintain. (In keeping with the beliefs of St. Patrick, himself, the three-leafed shamrock is a reference to the three parts of the Holy Trinity.)

c) For your St. Patrick's Day meal, forego the corned beef, and fix a bacon-and-sausage hot pie. There is a variety of recipes for this delicious dish, most of which will include a tasty combination of pork meats, spices, and white potatoes.

If you give it some thought, you can probably come up with your own alcohol-free St. Patrick's Day activities. In the meantime, "May your pockets be heavy, and your heart be light."