Irish People Admit What They Think Of How People Celebrate St. Patricks Day
There's a few holidays that we celebrate as children we may not consider the historical significance of at the time. Easter is all about collecting eggs? You get to knock on the door and they give you candy? Leprechauns? That last one is the subject of debate, as many so-called Irish-Americans take the streets and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a loud bit of debauchery, alcohol, and bad choices. Reddit user, r/UrNotTheBossOfMe, hoped to get to the bottom of how real Irish folks feel about how the world celebrates their holiday when they asked:
Redditors of Ireland: how do you feel about St. Patrick's day and how the rest of the world celebrates it?
Call It By Its Proper Name
I plan to watch the Ireland vs. England rugby match and then have a few drinks later on in the evening.
Only thing i hate about others especially the americans and canadians is that they call it St. Patty's day. That annoys me an awful amount and i almost got into a fight with an american acquaintance a few years back over it.
So Long As It's In the Name Of His Holiness...
It's like Spring Break for adults. Get drunk and have fun, in the name of a Saint.
A Little Recognition Is Nice
We celebrate it same as everyone else, drink and look at the parades. We don't get 'into' it as much as some other people, definitely not as much as the States does.
As for how we feel about it general, its pretty nice having the rest of the world pay attention to us, being as we are a tiny island off the shores of Europe. None of the other small nations of Europe get the same attention at all.
We encourage it cos it makes us a nice bit of cash every year, and its a hell of a great advertisment for the nation.
And if you wonder if we are insulted/that sort of thing about having a holiday revolving around imbibing liqour to represent our nation to the world, then nah. We don't really care. Sometimes annoyed by tourists or people getting things wrong, but mostly we couldn't be arsed and we're just happy to have a day off.
Just Check Out Those Canadian Parades
For most people I know it tends to just be another day. Nothing really special. Most just stay at home, although some take advantage of long weekends to see family.
The last few St. Patrick's day parades that I have been to have been very meh. The last one that I went to in Cork (Maybe four years ago?) was pretty boring. The main attraction was the Expat groups from African countries. It was a bit of a let down.
Overall, the parades that I have seen in Canada and elsewhere are much more entertaining, and the day seems to be more popular elsewhere.
It's Just Like New Year's
I always found it weird that other countries seem to make a bigger deal out of it than we do. I teach English to foreign students here, all the students who are here this week are planning on going MAD which, y'know, why not when it's a new experience...
I feel like it's a bit like New Years, everyone plans this day that they think is going to be amazing but then it's just... Not that great.
I'm sure I'll find somewhere to watch the match and have a few drinks but I'm gonna take it easy this year...
America Stands Out
I'm 18 so this will be my first Paddy's day that doesn't end in "get your friend home or we will bring them down to the station!". I'm looking forward to it. Going to 3 parades and then back to my friends house. Its always fun.
I'm actually rather jealous of a lot of places, especially America. Your parades look awesome! Our have really gone down in standard to be honest. We get a lot of your marching bands though. I say enjoy it! Its the one day I don't mind half the world claiming to be Irish.
We'd Rather Stay Home
I don't really like Paddy's day. There's so much drunk people during and after the Dublin parade, the streets are crowded, the next guy standing in front of you smells like brie cheese, and the worst part is it's usually raining.
I'm staying at home and getting drunk with le brother and sister. HAH.
Sláinte
Nothing like having a valid excuse for public intoxication.
And neither I nor anyone I know is offended by the fact that it's used as an excuse to drink alcohol by the rest of the world, that's all we use the day for too. Sure it wasn't even recognised as a national holiday until the late 19th century. The first Paddy's day parade was actually in America!
We Don't Need A Special Day
Don't care I don't need a special day to tell me I can get drunk. Come visit Ireland though, I will gladly have a pint with any redditor.
Spend The Day Muttering
Well, I'm a card-carrying Irishman (according to my passport) living in San Francisco, born on St Patrick's Day; and here's what I'm going to do:
- Sit at home
- Drink expertly
- Mutter furiously about the fact that the bars, today, are full of people who are neither Irish nor drinkers, but attempting to be both, with disappointingly predictable results.
Seriously, Call It By Its Proper Name
As long as nobody calls it Saint Patty's day, I'll be fine :)
Anyone Can March In The Parade
I think its weird the way in some places in the USA they have a big parade with floats and sh-- when in Waterford Ireland we have random people, mostly children, in clubs and scouts etc walking in the "parade"
I never go out drinking cuz thE price of drinks sky rocket and the town do be packed. So this paddy's day I shall be watching Ireland v England rugby match and getting in the horrors with the SO
Also the word patty makes my blood boil. It's just soooo annoying
Just Don't Claim to Be Something You're Not
Eh, if the yanks want to have their spectacular parades and wear green then that's their own business. Just don't claim to be Irish, and I don't really have a problem. As for my own celebrations, they will revolve around getting drunk and/or high in a forest somewhere, and maybe strolling down the chipper afterwards. And staying conscious, that'd be a bonus. I'm a Leaving Cert, so I deserve any break I get!
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Reminds Me Of Something Else...
I like that there's such a strong tradition of it in America, it reminds everyone of the Irish immigrants that helped build the place. I personally don't really like to go out because the pubs and clubs are packed and you can't really talk or have the craic. So I'll most likely just spend it having a few drinks in my house with close friends.
It's Just A Long Weekend
Proud that we're able to turn the world green for a day. Plus it's a day off and a nice opportunity for kids / local businesses to get together and show off their talents / skills / services.
Personally though, it's a non event for me. Nothing more than a bank holiday / long weekend. I'll be celebrating it with a lie in :)
Scared Americans?
I love it. Everyone celebrates by drinking, from early in the morning. Dublin is PACKED with everyone out for the parade and for the drink. Looking like the weather wont be great though...saw some scared Americans walking around in the rain today.
Guinness.
"Craic" Means "Fun"
Love the day, makes you proud to be Irish. The Yanks just annoy me because so many claim to be Irish but sure the craic is always had.
Don't Mind How Others Do It
I plan a day of all day drinking and partying. Don't mind how others celebrate it, everyone can be Irish for a day if they want - doesn't bother me :).
For The Last Time, Get Its Name Right
Lá Fhéile Pádraig!!
It's really not about religion anymore actually. Not one bit. It's mainly showcasing talent in the parade. But there are parades all over the country. The Church has little to no power in our country these days, by the way. I hardly know anyone who goes to mass on a Sunday morning, maybe the older generation does but certainly not my generation. We tend to use paddy's day as an excuse to get sh-- faced drunk and have a laugh.
We also hate the fact that Americans call it PATTY's day. GAH!!! it's PaDDy's day.. (:
Celebrate Where You Can
I'm Irish, living in Thailand. Plan on heading to an Irish bar, eating some overpriced Irish food and watching the game.
Oh....and wearing green of course :)
Not bothered in the slightest how others celebrate it.
Sometimes, It's All Okay
We have parades and we drink a lot.. way too much..
Last year I was in the city, but the pubs were very busy..
There's rugby on this years one so it's going to be extra messy, I shall be staying at home...
I am glad people have fun.
Real life contains the scariest horrors you could ask for. So aren't we all living in a horror movie, in a way? At least, these people sure freakin' were.
MisterSnowman69 asked: What was a moment in your life that felt like a horror movie scene?
In the words of the legendary Mary Vivian Pierce in the film Pink Flamingos, “Murder merely relieves tension”. I’m sure the following Redditors felt differently.
Nothing scarier than the woods at night.
Went into a real deep woods hike for only the second time in my life.
My gps broke and had to rely on my compass. Got turned around a few times because I couldn't remember the direction I came from, and it was getting dark. Lost the trail way.
But the woods are weirdly silent in the dark and alone.
It was around 2am by the time I found the trailhead.
Darn foxes.
the simpsons react GIFGiphyMy friend and I got lost late on one foggy night in the Italian countryside. There were rats all over and every once in a while we heard someone scream.
I've never been more sure I was about to get murdered than I was that night.
It was probably a red fox that was screaming.
Could've also been a lynx, but they are much rarer in Italy.
At least she wasn’t speaking in tongues.
My mom is quite the sleep talker, but it's usually pretty short and incoherent when it happens. One night as a teenager, I woke up to her scream-yelling the Hail Mary prayer (my bedroom was across the house and upstairs).
Difficult to get back to sleep after that one.
Sometimes scary sh*t ends up just being funny coincidences. Super funny. Right?
Don’t give them any ideas.
I was exploring an abandoned mental asylum and then got the scare of my life when a scary looking person inside one of the rooms was just staring at me without moving. Turns out some joker had left a cardboard cutout there.
And now I have plans this weekend... Just need to find a couple of cardboard cutouts and to break into the local abandoned asylum.
Don’t you hate when that happens?
Evil Dead Horror GIF by Coolidge Corner TheatreGiphyI was driving home on backcountry roads at midnight in heavy fog. Like can't see 10 feet in front of you thick. Suddenly I see an all-white silhouette running in front of the car. Every hair on my body stood up. I immediately think "oh god, oh f*ck, it's a f*cking woman in white, I'm gonna f*cking die"
Nope just a drunk who dove into the ditch.
Gotta love paranoia.
When I was about 12, my parents went out for dinner leaving me home alone. We lived out in the country, on a private road with only three other houses, surrounded by cow fields and wooded areas.
I went into the the kitchen and glanced out the window towards the trees and there in the fading light I could see a person walking slowly through the woods. They were wearing all black, moving slowly and appeared to pause behind trees. My heart started pounding so hard in my ears I couldn't hear anything else and I was weak and shaky from fear. I froze and just watched them. Would they come to the house? Where were they going?
This was before cell phones but I suddenly remembered my mom had left the number of the restaurant by the living room phone. Slowly, I made my way towards the living room, trying to watch this stranger in the woods.
Just as I entered the living room, all the lights in the entire house went out. By this time it was nearly dark outside. I started openly sobbing and in the dark I heard a weird boom like noise. That was it, I ran to my parents room, hid under their bed and sobbed. That's where my mom found me hours later (it felt like).
Well, turns out the stranger in the woods was a stupid cow that had busted through a fence, the lights going out was from an accident a few miles away (hit the power line) and the boom was the pilot light in the gas stove. Man, I have never been that scared in my life though!
I have a lot of questions.
A naked man who was covered in blood chased me across a park at 2 in the morning. I was totally alone. He just wanted money for a bus (????) and luckily nothing bad happened but I thought I was going to die.
But of course, the genuine horrors do exist. And they aren’t scary in a fun horror movie way, they’re actually terrifying because they can happen to anyone.
A scary few seconds.
car chase GIF by Mayans M.C.GiphyI am a "baby" in a car seat in between cousins in backseat. Dad is driving. This is in the 80s and it is my aunt's insistence that I am in this seat even though I am like 5.
A sleeping semi driver is coming over into our lane and there is a cliff on other side. Basically my dad did some amazing driving but semi blew us up. I am uninjured sitting in the seat swinging my legs while everyone is unconscious. They all wake groaning. Dad doesnt wake up.
Long story short just minor scrapes and dad has broken leg. But the crunch of metal and those few seconds/minute of being the only "alive" person was quite fear inducing.
Glad they’re all ok now.
Two days after my now boyfriend told me he liked me he fell from a zip line and broke his back. Almost died. 6 months later he got into a car wreck from a drunk driver - almost died. 6 months after that, he passed out and had to have emergency brain surgery, again, almost died. I now have severe anxiety/separation anxiety/and ptsd. That whole year was a f*cking nightmare
Edit: we're both okay now, the brain injury was almost a year ago. But TBIs take a while to heal so he still has side effects. Thankfully our relationship is still strong; he's physically getting better and I'm healing emotionally too. Lucky for him, the trauma of the injuries has caused him to forget the majority of the pain and memories of those incidents.
ALWAYS wear a helmet.
Driving home from work at 23, listening to my favorite song.
I pull up to a red light, and see this guy on a motorcycle coming up next to me in the other lane. I rolled down my window to compliment his bike when he stops. He doesn't, and runs the red light. He hits a car going at least 55mph. His motorcycle shatters apart, he goes flying, hits the hood of another car, and lands on the ground and rolls into the curb (no helmet). The car he hit with his motorcycle was totaled. I had to step over his body to talk to the police. He was still alive when they got there. I regret not holding his hand. It was just a normal day, and all of a sudden it felt like the rug was pulled from out beneath me. He was only 18.
Edit: The song was Sunny by Boney M., for those curious
What did we learn today, kids? Foxes scream like humans, shadowy figures are usually cows or drunken rednecks, and once again, PLEASE WEAR A HELMET WHEN YOU RIDE ANY KIND OF BIKE.
Scary sh*t surrounds us. But where there is horror, there are heroes. So next time you think you see a scary figure in the woods, know that Bruce Campbell is probably right around the corner
Hypocrisy is everywhere; it's like a disease. And sadly everyone does it. Some of us indulge in smaller doses than others. But some people live their life by it. Like how can you support civil servants, like police, firefighters, etc... yet try to find ways to hide money in order to not pay taxes? Tell me... I'll wait.
Manga...
Hungry Night Court GIF by LaffGiphyItalian moms that say you're too fat then say I'm making grandma cry by not finishing my pasta.
Asian moms too! Not only that if you try to not eat, they make to go containers for you. Oh, sorry I have to leave, RUNS AT LEAST HAVE SOME FRUIT.
Phonies...
Celebrities positioning themselves as champions for social justice while launching a clothing line with no comment on the labor conditions their garments are made in.
Sexy Times...
The Porn Industry
Why is prostitution considered a crime, but it becomes perfectly legal once a camera is put beside them?
I think the first amendment helps with that one. There's been many a supreme-court case about whether porn is protected speech.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...
You can get away with WAY more crap, in general, when you're attractive.
But we all kind of aspire to attractiveness and it's not like it's attractive people's fault, exactly. So what is there to be done?
So true. Money and beauty are treated like virtues and they aren't. They're luck of the draw. It probably helps you to be a better person if people assume that you are gentle and clever just by looking at your face or wallet.
KIDS
GIF by MOODMANGiphyPeople screaming at you if you don't want Kids and Kids are the greatest thing in the World and then turn around and whine how expensive they are and how annoying yadda yadda.
Yeah see... humans are a mess. And too often then not, personal conviction and dignity are just a myth, or a punchline. Double standards have always been a way of life. And many of us have begrudgingly learned to navigate.
Fashion
Fashion Model GIF by NYFW: The ShowsGiphyIf a skinny person wears something out of the ordinary, it's a fashion statement and awesome. It can even just be something like a crop top or overalls.
But God forbid a fat person wear the same thing.
Distractions
The hypocrisy hypocrisy. People love to call it out but rarely notice it on themselves and if they notice it then it's something completely different or a distraction.
That's the worst. I hate that I have to hate that. But if I don't hate it, then the hate will just continue. So, really, my hate comes from my love of an end to hate. So anyone who hates my hate hates love. And we must hate anyone who hates love!
My Morality
My own personal hypocrisy; When I was a lot less well off financially, delivering pizzas trying to get through college, I kept a cup of coins in my car. When a homeless person would approach me for spare change, I gave them the cup. Most of the time it was nearly full, so there was probably 20-30 dollars in there.
Now that I have a good salaried job, even if I've got a few bucks in my wallet, I tend to not even make eye contact anymore. I know it's awful, I know it makes me crappy, but the last 4-5 years have made me a jaded craphead towards people in general. I used to be so hopeful and I wanted to help everyone, and tried to live a life that reflected that.
Now, while my general and political morality is pretty much the same, my personal morality has gotten more grey. I'd jaded, I hate people, I assume the worst of people I used to assume the best of. I don't really care about the strangers around me like I used to, but I still expect everyone else to.
Placing Blame
Victim mentality.
It's so freaking frustrating when it becomes entrenched. "You did this, it's your fault" "you should've known to do x, its your fault" Yeah bro your problems aren't my problems and if all you do is make excuses and blame me for them, it's not going to be my fault when you don't develop as a person and accomplish your dreams. I'm sure they'll find someone to blame though.
In D.C.
Donald Trump Reaction GIF by Election 2016GiphyPoliticians work part time, are given free housing, education, and health care, and exempt from the everyday violence we experience, but refuse to lift a finger to help us.
At this points most people running for a position in the government are only in it for the benefits of being a politician and the amount of money they can embezzle. Well in my country at least.
Just speak a truth and live it. Yes, it maybe hard. But what part of life isn't? Hypocrisy is just lying. Plain and simple. And it's a sin to lie.
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