5 Common Things Associated with St. Paddy's Day

March 13, 2009 12:04 PM
by Marcos Colón

When you think holiday, you think Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, all of which you anticipate by at least one month. You decorate, start thinking about meals, planning visits, getting costumes. But there’s one holiday out there that never gets that level of anticipation. Instead, it creeps up on you, and most of the time you’re left with that last minute choice of ‘what to do,’ and ‘where to go.’ We’re talking about good ol’ St. Patrick’s Day, the only day in the year when most of your surroundings will be green, and some ass that takes the holiday a bit too serious’ll pinch you. Since St. Paddy’s Day is just around the corner, we’ve decided to put together a little list of the top five things most commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day.

#5 Most Commonly Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Ireland

What would be first on our list of things most commonly associated with St. Patrick’s Day other than Ireland! After all, it is the national holiday of this small country. Known for having a majority Catholic’s population, in Ireland this day is also a holy day of obligation. Not to say that they don’t take part in a little drinking here and there…well maybe a lot of drinking. For this awesome holiday that everyone, including non-Catholics, enjoy, we must all take our hats off to them. The originators!

#4 Most Commonly Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Leprechauns

Nothing says St. Patrick’s Day better than a leprechaun. Those little mythical creatures that are loaded with golden coins are on just about every decorated street, bar and restaurant, which is why they’re on our list as one of the things most commonly associated with St. Paddy’s Day. When you think of this holiday, you think of leprechauns, and of course, when you think of leprechauns you think Lucky Charms. On this day, thousands of little people make money dressing up as them, and going into bars to shake hands, have people pat them on the head, and then they end up stumbling out after a Guinness…yes one.

#3 Most Commonly Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Bars

Look, I know some of us may take this holiday a little too serious and celebrate it at good ol’ Granny O’Shea's house, but the majority of us hit the bar with a fury, a green fury! No one goes to restaurants, or nightclubs, it’s all about the local watering hole and the drink specials that you get. Here’s the scenario: You meet up with your buddies, all decked out in green of course. Go over to your favorite pub (just make sure there’s something going on there, you don’t wanna show up at a bar looking like an ass in green if there’s no decorations or festivities.) Then you drink. And drink. And drink. St. Patrick’s Day is about drinking, and where better to drink on this holiday than at a bar, one of the most commonly associated things with St. Patrick’s Day.

#2 Most Commonly Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Green Beer

This is the one-day of the year when green ale and lagers are attractive to someone. Other than St. Patrick’s Day, the only green liquid that seems consumable is Mountain Dew, but who the hell drinks that anymore? Bars usually order kegs of green lager to get the party going. Most common green beers you ask? Bud Light, not sure why, but could have something to do with the recipe. If everyone’s drinking green Bud Light, then it’ll look even more appetizing to you. No need for food on this day, it’s all about drinking, and drinking green beer is the only way to go, and it’s one of the most commonly associated things when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day.

#1 Most Commonly Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Drunkenness

One thing leads to another, which leads to another. So when bars lead to green beer, a lot of green beer, then you know what that means. A good old-fashioned intoxication, the number one thing associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Now there are many people of Irish descent that take way too much pride in the literal meaning and celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, and they highly look down upon the stumbling stuttering zombies that pour out of any and all bars on this great holiday. However, it’s still a celebration, isn’t it? Who doesn’t have a drink on Christmas? And that’s supposed to be when Christ was born! Let’s face it people, St. Patrick’s Day is about drinking! At a bar! With green beer!