Can anyone tell that I’m not Irish?? I’m not in grade school anymore, so I don’t have to wear green on March 17. And if you try to pinch me, I’m going to pinch you back, really hard, even if you’re wearing green.Today was a big stretch for me to wear green at work … a bright green sweater with green sequins. It’s not really in celebration for St. Paddy’s Day, because, as I mentioned, I’m not Irish. I just like that sweater and wanted to wear it. I’m trying to play nice. As much as I love the color green, I usually do NOT wear green on March 17 on purpose because I’m not Irish and don’t have a desire to celebrate the day. I don’t drink green beer. I don’t go to the St. Paddy’s Day parade, which incidentally was four days ago. I don’t make cupcakes with green frosting to bring to work or make shamrock-shaped sugar cookies. (But I'll eat them.)
I’m particularly annoyed when people stare at me, looking for the green. WAH-CHU LOOKIN’ AT?? Yes, I have green on, and I wear it every freakin’ day. It’s called a jade pendant that I received from my mother. My Chinese mother.
Did you know that St. Patrick was actually born in Great Britain, kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teenager, and dragged to Ireland as a slave? And St Patrick probably did NOT drive Ireland’s snakes into the sea, since Ireland emerged from the Ice Age too cold for any snake colonization. And why do we wear green anyway? Resources show that blue was the first color associated with this day, but it changed in the 17th century. Are we supposed to change history like that? And isn’t St. Patrick’s Day about church … not Guiness?
Why doesn’t anyone around here celebrate Chinese New Year? The Lunar New Year? The Year of the Tiger?? That’s a big holiday for the enormously large Asian community in this country and it’s a week long celebration. People of all ethnicities love to look at their lunar horoscopes and take pride in the characteristics of that animal. Then, there’s the “red package”??? Kids love that! And they can buy their own danged cookie.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have anything against any ethnic group. I love everyone. OK, not everyone, but it’s not because of their ethnic background (but that's another blog). Being the melting pot that America is supposed to be, I think there are hundreds of ethnic holidays that could be recognized to honor the people of this world and this country.
And by the way, if you hadn’t noticed … I’m not Irish. And leprechauns are kinda creepy.
4 comments:
Daaaaaaaang! A little touchy about it, aren't you? *LOL*
Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am Irish! LOL and I forgot to wear green on St Patricks day in fact truth be told I don't really care whether I do.I like green Guiness though....actually I'd drink Guiness just about any color. Also in the spirit of celebrating the Chinese culture you'll be pleased to know that a small group of us have started a Chinese tradition. For the last two years our entire department has gone out for a Chinese New Year lunch (during the week of Chinese New Year). One my coworkers orders from the Chinese menu for the group (he tries to choose things that won't be too "scary" for us (his word)We all leave so full that it is difficult to work that afternoon.
This topic was amusing/entertaining and I'm sure others have wondered, as you, why so many participate in observing the holiday when they aren't Irish.
I guess I'll take your St. Pattys day gift back then.
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