I'm torn as to how to celebrate. I want to acknowledge my Irish heritage, but doing things like wearing green and eating cornbeef and cabbage is so cliched.
So how do you all celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
You can go to the St Patrick's day parade, Sara, if you want to celebrate.
Many people in Ireland (and other countries) would go to early mass and communion, and then go to the parade, but they're mostly catholics.
You can settle for a Guinness, and you can get green ones as well, so you can be economical with the cliches.
Or you can get stuck into the you-can't-go-to-parade-unless-you're-Irish brigade who live on the mustard boards here.
(You'll probably have more fun doing the latter. What a celebration!)
You go for it, Sara.
I'll probably wear green to my jobs this morning, I play music at home daycares. I'll probably play a few jigs for the kiddos, too.
I would love to do a big corned beef/cabbage dinner, but no one in the family likes it. And they are the ones with Irish blood in them (thanks to hubby, I'm Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, English...).
And, I'll continue to lurk on a couple of threads here, undoubtedly raising my blood pressure.
Do what ever gives you joy - wear a green tuxedo if you like. Worry not what others think, and certainly don't look for validation amongst the angry, cynical, pot stirring crowd here. Enjoy it! Celebrate the man and celebrate your heritage.
Well, wyogal, don't you think that just maybe your Irish forebears may have emigrated to get away from corned beef and cabbage, and your family has inherited that cultural memory?
Seriously, the times that I have been to a St Patrick's Day parade (and I have Irish heritage), I have found it very interesting to see, meet and speak with Irish people, and maybe imagined what my forebears might have been like, and how different or similar I am now as a result of other cultural influences over a long time.
I love the humor, it is unmistakeably in my family, I love the rhetoric, it is also a similarity I can see, I can see the care for other people, the commonality and supportiveness between people - more of which the world could do with right now.
I love the music, I am not sure why I do, but it strikes a chord in me like no other music does.
I come away from the parade understanding a little better who I am and why. That's a fairly productive day I would have thought.
Look, with your corned beef, just sprinkle on the sugar then cover with generous amounts of black vinegar, and let it soak in for a few minutes. That'll really take you to the top of the gourmet list. Your relatives will love you.
We hang out the tri-color and Herself's County flag (Dun Na Ghall-I think I got the spelling right)
She wears vibrant green. The Polack in me wears a 'half-tone" irish. We did the church celebration the other day because Palm sunday and Holy Week made a mess of the schedule for the orthodox Catholics.
And I play alot of button.
In Beverly on the South Side of Chicago, we had our Parade last weekend. Hizzoner's was yesterday in Downtown Chicago.
I was in the St Louis parade on Saturday, and my daughter's dance school colors are black and red. I think we were the only ones not wearing green, and I thought that was a hoot.
Celebrate it however you'd like, and realize that this is many folks closest shot to being Irish, if just for one misdirected day. Then we can get back to our normal sessions and lives.
Me, I'm playing tunes. Yep, same as any other day. But with a few extra gigs. I had planned to skip the gigs this year, but yielded to temptation when people called and asked.
The confusion about the actual Day has helped, on the gig front. Played a private party Saturday (when Seattle had its big parade), a restaurant Sunday ("we think a lot people won't want to go out on a Monday"--and we did have a decent-sized crowd), then have another restaurant for the lunch crowd today (Monday), and then at yet another one for the dinner crowd this evening. (And then off to bed, for me!)
Plus a couple of email inquiries from big "sports bars" that we replied to, but didn't hear anything further about. Fine by me. They probably wanted something involving electric guitars and kilts, anyway.
And in case you think I'm bragging, think again. The money is paltry. So--not only am I a whore, I'm a cheap whore. ;>}
Surely the true patriotic sons and daughters of Uncle Sam should be celebrating 17th of March when in 1776 American revolutionaries forced the British troops to evacuate Boston; rather than stuff about some British saint who went and made another oppressed people (the Irish) go and believe in a story about a jew who was supposed to come back to life?
I'm wearing the same drab green faux army-looking shirt that I wear all the time. I'm going to attend a couple of concerts, have a session, drink beer, and say some prayers in thanks for St. Patrick. A pretty good day, I should think.
I made Irish Stew yesterday so it would be easy to heat up today. Corn Beef and Cabbage isn't really Irish. It's *Irish-American*. When the Irish came here they couldn't find the type of bacon they used for their Bacon & Cabbage. It is said the noticed their Jewish nieghbors had corned beef which some what resembled thier bacon ( but was kosher ) and adapted it for themselves.
Corned beef and cabbage risotto is great, with onion, herbs and lashings of tomato ketchup, when you've been out doing some kind of activity in the cold. Go and spend a day climbing a mountain, if there are any in Maine (is it?), and then enjoy tucking into CB & C risotto. Oh, and some Parmesan cheese on top to stir in, and salt and black pepper to taste. DE-LISH!
Yep jason, both the aforementioned Briton and jew were cool guys. But my suggestion was for Americans wishing to celebrate something American, something truly wholesome and truly heroic.
I will don the ancient rubber Ted Kennedy mask I keep in my car and whilst careening over the many bridges of this city of astonishing wealth and sophistication I will unmelodically bellow "...last night Billy Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge..."
Idling at stop lights, I will lecture any remotely Irish-appearing pedestrian about the crucial need to establish a "St. JFK's Day" in Ireland to honor us, the most important of the Irish diasporeenios, the Americans.
Key, it's interesting, you don't seem to understand that celebrating Irish-American culture *is* celebrating American culture. I was just down on Fifth Ave. watching the parade and they had a civil war regiment marching past, flying a tattered American flag and some flag that belonged to one of the Irish regiments that fought on the Union side in the American Civil War. That's true American history. It's also Irish. Something to celebrate!
"Something to celebrate!"
Is it, kennedy ? Why ? Just seems like jingoism to me. 'History is a nightmare from which I'm trying to awake', J. Joyce. Why not just celebrate being alive, every day a holiday ?
I think it's perfectly fine to celebrate a community's contributions to American history and culture. Every ethnic group does it. There are museums for Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, even Native Americans. What's wrong with that? It defines who we are. Don't you care about history at all?
The American nation has every right to celebrate the Moon and Mars landings. Then, they can all be Martians for a day.
But I suppose there might be counter-demonstrations by those who seriously believe the Moon landings were faked, and by real Martians protesting that the Mars landings damaged religious sites and lowered property prices in their neighbourhood.
I consider myself supremely lucky in that this afternoon at 4:00 I'll be at the Irish Center in Philadelphia listening to Danny Meehan and Dermot Kearney play tunes in front of the fireplace. The Irish Center (aka Commodore Barry Club) is home to all things Irish in Philly and is located in the Mt. Airy section. The Philadelphia Ceili Group hosted Danny & Dermot for a concert on Friday-totally class evening of tunes, songs, poems, stories by these two great talents. And they are returning today for more punishment. This is a truly authentic way to celebrate our heritage in a lovely setting with no green beer (great pints however!)...
One other note...I had Danny and Dermot on my radio show live yesterday and it was truly a "hooley in the kitchen" for the hour they were on!
We celebrate it for Pat Murphy, and all our ancestors. That's why.
'Twas the night before battle: and gathered in groups,
The soldiers lay close in their quarters;
They were thinking no doubt, of the dear ones at home..
Of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters..
With his pipe in his mouth, sat a dashing young blade,
And a song he was lilting so gaily:
It was honest Pat Murphy, of Meagher's Brigade,
And he sang of the Sprig of shillelagh
Och, murdher! says Pat, it's a shame for to see
Brothers fighting in such a queer manner:
But I'll fight till I die, (if I shouldn't be kilt)
For America's bright Starry Banner.
Now, if it was only John Bull to the fore,
I'd rush into battle quite gaily;
For the spalpeen I'd rap with a heart an' a half,
With my illigant Sprig of shillelagh
Jeff. Davis, you thief! if I had you but here,
Your beautiful plans I'd be ruinin':
Faix! I'd give ye a taste of me bayonet, bedad!
For thryin' to burst up the Union:
There's a crowd in the North, too, an' they're just as bad:
Abolitionist spouters so scaly --
For throubling the naigers I think they desarve,
A Whack from a Sprig of shillelagh
The morning soon came, and poor Paddy awoke,
On the Rebels to have satisfaction:
The drummers were beating the divil's tattoo,
Calling the boys into action.
Then, the Irish Brigade in the battle was seen,
Their blood, in our cause, shedding freely;
With their bayonet-charges they rushed on the foe,
With a shout for the Land of shillelagh
The battle was over..the dead lay in heaps:
Pat Murphy lay bleeding and gory:
A hole through his head, from rifleman's shot,
Had finished his passion for glory;
No more in the camp, shall his laughter be heard,
Or his voice singing ditties so gaily;
Like a hero he died..for the Land of the Free.
Far away from the land of shillelagh
Then, surely, Columbia can never forget,
While valor and fame hold communion,
How nobly the brave Irish Volunteers fought,
In defense of the flag of our Union:
And, if ever Old Ireland for freedom should strike,
We'll a helping hand offer quite freely:
And the Stars and the Stripes shall be seen alongside,
Of the Flag of the Land of shillelagh
kennedy said: "Jingoism? Huh? You'll need to explain that one."
It'll be online somewhere, just a few clicks away
"I think it's perfectly fine to celebrate a community's contributions to American history and culture. Every ethnic group does it. There are museums for Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, even Native Americans. What's wrong with that? It defines who we are."
Sorry, kennedy. It doesn't define who *I* am. Not at all. I'd say I'm a citizen of the world, or the planet.
"Don't you care about history at all?"
Depends what you mean by 'history'. I love to study history. I'd like to know everything that happened in the past, everywhere. I study it because it helps to understand how things got to be the way they are now. It's full of mind-boggling stories. Doesn't make me attached to any ethnic group, or make me feel nationalistic, or drawn to celebrate warfare. I'm quite happy just being me, celebrating each day as it comes.
...and if you'll look carefully, the song damns all powers that be which cause the poor to fight each other. Like all good veterans, Pat Murphy damns both sides.
SWFL Fiddler said: "So quit playing Irish music and play world music."
Oh, I will, I will. As soon as I've learned all there is to know about playing the Irish, I'll move on and learn everybody else's. Just that Ireland is quite nearby and handy, so it's an easy place to start...I'm looking forward to getting into the Tuvan nose singing, should go well with jigs and reels
I don't blame anyone in America for wanting to have a few days partying... I mean, their leader has screwed up foreign policy and brought the country to bankruptcy. Bit of a mess really.
O.K., I went out and bought some corned beef, yes, knowing that it is an American food, it was on sale. It is simmering on the stove, covered in beer. I'll cook the cabbage separately, not sure how yet. Probably with lots of onions and potatoes.
We had the whole corned beef dinner with Guiness and red wine, and will eat the leftovers all week. I wore my green shirt and family tartan tie (Dad, 100% Glasgow and Mom, 100% Armagh). I brought my flute to class and played session tunes for the kids, and explained what sessions are. I had my Comhaltas CD running all day between classes, and a VHS travelog tape from Ireland on the TV with the sound off.
Let's be clear here - the concept of the big Saint Patrick's Day parade is indeed a uniquely American concept - pioneered by Irish immigrants more than 100 years ago. Yes it was jingoistic, ethnocentric, and vaguely militaristic. After spending so much time at the lowest rungs of many societies' ladders, it represented an awakening of pride and self-determination amongst the great diaspora. That awakening was key in the support for Irish independence at the turn of the last century. Irish immigrants in America went from the lowest ditch-diggers to infiltrating and having a controlling share of politics, and the police and fire departments of many large American cities (much to the utter dismay of the white Anglo-Saxon aristocracy) Now to our European brethren, no - we're not Irish. But we are Irish Americans. It's a distinct sub-culture spawned by desperate immigrants beginning 150+ years ago. I know we sometimes offend you all with our boorish behavior. But please if us we have a shout, a pint and a couple of tunes on our favorite day of the year.
Played some tunes and read some stories for my daughter's kindergarten class and son's daycare room.
At the daycare, the other room of preschoolers overheard the tunes and joined us.
Thanks to Pirate-Fiddler for the explanation of corned beef and cabbage. When I first came to Canada from Ireland eveyone would ask why didn't I eat corned beef, and I was totally perplexed.
That would include me, although I too wish like others that I could simply be a "citizen of the world". Too many flags and lines on maps to really do it as I would want to, too many "them's and "us"s, that includes my wishing I could just fly over to Ireland and get a job and stay if I wanted. Could I? Heh.
I am proud of my own culture's past positive accomplishments, and hopeful for more under better leadership in the near future.
Celebrate today? I do not, but I would not rain on yours or anyone else's parade. Go for it, yahoo!
Me, I would rather Cerebrate --- I just keep in mind all the lessons the history of the Irish people, worldwide, has to give us. Everything from Irish missionaries spreading good works for their faith to Irish mercenaries clubbing down poor Brazilians in Bahia.
I do not take pride simply because I came from the same gene-pool, that was sheer dumb luck. It may have given me a propensity toward some things, but I am not betting on it. As is well represented here at this site, people are people the whole world over, and there is no group or tribe any superior to the rest.
It was once the Saint's Day, but, as for me, I am not a practicing Catholic.
If I should ever become one again, more likely I will hike up Croagh Padraig than hit the pubs to comemorate Patrick.
Do what is in your heart. Have a grand day. Every day. All of you.
Yesterday I went downtown to our big St. Pat's parade just to look around. I found a couple of friends busking and joined them for the rest of the event. Lots of fun. We even were on the eleven o'clock news!
Tonight we are playing at a micro-brewery. I wish I could stay home instead. But maybe I will make a collection for wolfbird so he can get back on his medication.
When did Zeus become a doctor? I thought he was a god. Just kidding, (Seuss). They do that at our schools here on Dr. Seuss' day, green eggs and ham and all that. really gross.
The cabbage is on, with onions and a bit of the corned beef liquid.
Boiling potatoes and will have carrots, too.
My Mom was Irish and my Dad was Icelandic so celebration is pretty much a way of life for me
Today, I'm wearing a splash of green and eating corned beef and cabbage for supper (for the third time in the past week because my wife craves it this time of year). We're staying home because we gigged last night (nice to meet you Chris). I'll probably have a beer or two (I think there's some Heineken stout, I mean Murphy's, in the fridge ), practice on the instrument a bit and retire early--which is my wont on a work night.
No. I never heard of it before you mentioned it earlier. I google searched and it seems it's more a US thing that was adopted from a Canadian celebration of Icelandic heritage. My Dad's family came to California by way of Canada in 1920s, but back then I don't think there were many other Icelanders in San Diego. By the time I showed up on the scene, they weren't all that attached to their cultural heritage--at least not obviously . My Irish Mom, on the other hand...
Calling all Americans
Calling all Americans
I'm torn as to how to celebrate. I want to acknowledge my Irish heritage, but doing things like wearing green and eating cornbeef and cabbage is so cliched.
So how do you all celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
Sara
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Celtic Lass
Re: Calling all Americans
You can go to the St Patrick's day parade, Sara, if you want to celebrate.
Many people in Ireland (and other countries) would go to early mass and communion, and then go to the parade, but they're mostly catholics.
You can settle for a Guinness, and you can get green ones as well, so you can be economical with the cliches.
Or you can get stuck into the you-can't-go-to-parade-unless-you're-Irish brigade who live on the mustard boards here.
(You'll probably have more fun doing the latter. What a celebration!)
You go for it, Sara.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Calling all Americans
I'll probably wear green to my jobs this morning, I play music at home daycares. I'll probably play a few jigs for the kiddos, too.
I would love to do a big corned beef/cabbage dinner, but no one in the family likes it. And they are the ones with Irish blood in them (thanks to hubby, I'm Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, English...).
And, I'll continue to lurk on a couple of threads here, undoubtedly raising my blood pressure.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
I celebrated yesterday.
No Guinness cuz it really is the Budweiser of stouts. That means it's tasteless. Sure looks good though.
No, I had a few local micro-brewed ales, ate a "Burger Ole' with chips" and enjoyed Euro-Americana music by "The Mad Maggies" with my friends.
We had a great time. Today we rest... maybe.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
Do what ever gives you joy - wear a green tuxedo if you like. Worry not what others think, and certainly don't look for validation amongst the angry, cynical, pot stirring crowd here. Enjoy it! Celebrate the man and celebrate your heritage.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Calling all Americans
Well, wyogal, don't you think that just maybe your Irish forebears may have emigrated to get away from corned beef and cabbage, and your family has inherited that cultural memory?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Calling all Americans
LOL Genetic memory, that's gotta be it !
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
Genetic cultural memory
oops
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
Seriously, the times that I have been to a St Patrick's Day parade (and I have Irish heritage), I have found it very interesting to see, meet and speak with Irish people, and maybe imagined what my forebears might have been like, and how different or similar I am now as a result of other cultural influences over a long time.
I love the humor, it is unmistakeably in my family, I love the rhetoric, it is also a similarity I can see, I can see the care for other people, the commonality and supportiveness between people - more of which the world could do with right now.
I love the music, I am not sure why I do, but it strikes a chord in me like no other music does.
I come away from the parade understanding a little better who I am and why. That's a fairly productive day I would have thought.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Calling all Americans
Nah, MY forebears ate lutefisk.... Corned beef and cabbage is MUCH more sophisticated! ha!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
Look, with your corned beef, just sprinkle on the sugar then cover with generous amounts of black vinegar, and let it soak in for a few minutes. That'll really take you to the top of the gourmet list. Your relatives will love you.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Calling all Americans
Ya know, I can't ever remember going to a St Paddy's Day parade.
I'm not really into parades. Hmmph.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
It's not like ya have to go in it, Fish.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: Calling all Americans
We hang out the tri-color and Herself's County flag (Dun Na Ghall-I think I got the spelling right)
She wears vibrant green. The Polack in me wears a 'half-tone" irish. We did the church celebration the other day because Palm sunday and Holy Week made a mess of the schedule for the orthodox Catholics.
And I play alot of button.
In Beverly on the South Side of Chicago, we had our Parade last weekend. Hizzoner's was yesterday in Downtown Chicago.
This year, St. Pat's was more of a season!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by zippydw
Re: Calling all Americans
I was in the St Louis parade on Saturday, and my daughter's dance school colors are black and red. I think we were the only ones not wearing green, and I thought that was a hoot.
Celebrate it however you'd like, and realize that this is many folks closest shot to being Irish, if just for one misdirected day. Then we can get back to our normal sessions and lives.
Best wishes to everyone.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by nofrets
Re: Calling all Americans
Me, I'm playing tunes. Yep, same as any other day. But with a few extra gigs. I had planned to skip the gigs this year, but yielded to temptation when people called and asked.
The confusion about the actual Day has helped, on the gig front. Played a private party Saturday (when Seattle had its big parade), a restaurant Sunday ("we think a lot people won't want to go out on a Monday"--and we did have a decent-sized crowd), then have another restaurant for the lunch crowd today (Monday), and then at yet another one for the dinner crowd this evening. (And then off to bed, for me!)
Plus a couple of email inquiries from big "sports bars" that we replied to, but didn't hear anything further about. Fine by me. They probably wanted something involving electric guitars and kilts, anyway.
And in case you think I'm bragging, think again. The money is paltry. So--not only am I a whore, I'm a cheap whore. ;>}
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by John Galt
Re: Calling all Americans
Surely the true patriotic sons and daughters of Uncle Sam should be celebrating 17th of March when in 1776 American revolutionaries forced the British troops to evacuate Boston; rather than stuff about some British saint who went and made another oppressed people (the Irish) go and believe in a story about a jew who was supposed to come back to life?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Calling all Americans
I'm wearing the same drab green faux army-looking shirt that I wear all the time. I'm going to attend a couple of concerts, have a session, drink beer, and say some prayers in thanks for St. Patrick. A pretty good day, I should think.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Calling all Americans
I dig Patrick, and I dig said Jew.
Didn't know about Boston though, good call.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by jasonb
Re: Calling all Americans
I made Irish Stew yesterday so it would be easy to heat up today. Corn Beef and Cabbage isn't really Irish. It's *Irish-American*. When the Irish came here they couldn't find the type of bacon they used for their Bacon & Cabbage. It is said the noticed their Jewish nieghbors had corned beef which some what resembled thier bacon ( but was kosher
) and adapted it for themselves.
So for me it's Irish Stew Guiness and soda bread
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler
Re: Calling all Americans
Corned beef and cabbage risotto is great, with onion, herbs and lashings of tomato ketchup, when you've been out doing some kind of activity in the cold. Go and spend a day climbing a mountain, if there are any in Maine (is it?), and then enjoy tucking into CB & C risotto. Oh, and some Parmesan cheese on top to stir in, and salt and black pepper to taste. DE-LISH!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Calling all Americans
Yep jason, both the aforementioned Briton and jew were cool guys. But my suggestion was for Americans wishing to celebrate something American, something truly wholesome and truly heroic.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Calling all Americans
I will don the ancient rubber Ted Kennedy mask I keep in my car and whilst careening over the many bridges of this city of astonishing wealth and sophistication I will unmelodically bellow "...last night Billy Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge..."
Idling at stop lights, I will lecture any remotely Irish-appearing pedestrian about the crucial need to establish a "St. JFK's Day" in Ireland to honor us, the most important of the Irish diasporeenios, the Americans.
And eat cabbage. Kimchee, and plenty of it.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by NEW Pure Drop® Ear Canal Oil
Re: Calling all Americans
Key, it's interesting, you don't seem to understand that celebrating Irish-American culture *is* celebrating American culture. I was just down on Fifth Ave. watching the parade and they had a civil war regiment marching past, flying a tattered American flag and some flag that belonged to one of the Irish regiments that fought on the Union side in the American Civil War. That's true American history. It's also Irish. Something to celebrate!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by kennedy
Re: Calling all Americans
"Something to celebrate!"
Is it, kennedy ? Why ? Just seems like jingoism to me. 'History is a nightmare from which I'm trying to awake', J. Joyce. Why not just celebrate being alive, every day a holiday ?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Calling all Americans
Jingoism? Huh? You'll need to explain that one.
I think it's perfectly fine to celebrate a community's contributions to American history and culture. Every ethnic group does it. There are museums for Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, even Native Americans. What's wrong with that? It defines who we are. Don't you care about history at all?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by kennedy
Re: Calling all Americans
The American nation has every right to celebrate the Moon and Mars landings. Then, they can all be Martians for a day.
But I suppose there might be counter-demonstrations by those who seriously believe the Moon landings were faked, and by real Martians protesting that the Mars landings damaged religious sites and lowered property prices in their neighbourhood.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Calling all Americans
I consider myself supremely lucky in that this afternoon at 4:00 I'll be at the Irish Center in Philadelphia listening to Danny Meehan and Dermot Kearney play tunes in front of the fireplace. The Irish Center (aka Commodore Barry Club) is home to all things Irish in Philly and is located in the Mt. Airy section. The Philadelphia Ceili Group hosted Danny & Dermot for a concert on Friday-totally class evening of tunes, songs, poems, stories by these two great talents. And they are returning today for more punishment. This is a truly authentic way to celebrate our heritage in a lovely setting with no green beer (great pints however!)...
One other note...I had Danny and Dermot on my radio show live yesterday and it was truly a "hooley in the kitchen" for the hour they were on!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by moria enya
Re: Calling all Americans
We celebrate it for Pat Murphy, and all our ancestors. That's why.
'Twas the night before battle: and gathered in groups,
The soldiers lay close in their quarters;
They were thinking no doubt, of the dear ones at home..
Of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters..
With his pipe in his mouth, sat a dashing young blade,
And a song he was lilting so gaily:
It was honest Pat Murphy, of Meagher's Brigade,
And he sang of the Sprig of shillelagh
Och, murdher! says Pat, it's a shame for to see
Brothers fighting in such a queer manner:
But I'll fight till I die, (if I shouldn't be kilt)
For America's bright Starry Banner.
Now, if it was only John Bull to the fore,
I'd rush into battle quite gaily;
For the spalpeen I'd rap with a heart an' a half,
With my illigant Sprig of shillelagh
Jeff. Davis, you thief! if I had you but here,
Your beautiful plans I'd be ruinin':
Faix! I'd give ye a taste of me bayonet, bedad!
For thryin' to burst up the Union:
There's a crowd in the North, too, an' they're just as bad:
Abolitionist spouters so scaly --
For throubling the naigers I think they desarve,
A Whack from a Sprig of shillelagh
The morning soon came, and poor Paddy awoke,
On the Rebels to have satisfaction:
The drummers were beating the divil's tattoo,
Calling the boys into action.
Then, the Irish Brigade in the battle was seen,
Their blood, in our cause, shedding freely;
With their bayonet-charges they rushed on the foe,
With a shout for the Land of shillelagh
The battle was over..the dead lay in heaps:
Pat Murphy lay bleeding and gory:
A hole through his head, from rifleman's shot,
Had finished his passion for glory;
No more in the camp, shall his laughter be heard,
Or his voice singing ditties so gaily;
Like a hero he died..for the Land of the Free.
Far away from the land of shillelagh
Then, surely, Columbia can never forget,
While valor and fame hold communion,
How nobly the brave Irish Volunteers fought,
In defense of the flag of our Union:
And, if ever Old Ireland for freedom should strike,
We'll a helping hand offer quite freely:
And the Stars and the Stripes shall be seen alongside,
Of the Flag of the Land of shillelagh
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Calling all Americans
kennedy said: "Jingoism? Huh? You'll need to explain that one."
It'll be online somewhere, just a few clicks away
"I think it's perfectly fine to celebrate a community's contributions to American history and culture. Every ethnic group does it. There are museums for Jewish Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, even Native Americans. What's wrong with that? It defines who we are."
Sorry, kennedy. It doesn't define who *I* am. Not at all. I'd say I'm a citizen of the world, or the planet.
"Don't you care about history at all?"
Depends what you mean by 'history'. I love to study history. I'd like to know everything that happened in the past, everywhere. I study it because it helps to understand how things got to be the way they are now. It's full of mind-boggling stories. Doesn't make me attached to any ethnic group, or make me feel nationalistic, or drawn to celebrate warfare. I'm quite happy just being me, celebrating each day as it comes.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Calling all Americans
Wolfbird, how nice that you're a world citizen. Why do you have a problem with some other people on another part of the planet having a parade?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by kennedy
Re: Calling all Americans
SARA
Drink Plenty of Guinness,And you'll get the Hang of it .. lol.
More Important =
HAVE A GOOD TIME -
jim,,,
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Calling all Americans
So quit playing Irish music and play world music.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Calling all Americans
I mean, if you're a "world" citizen.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Calling all Americans
...and if you'll look carefully, the song damns all powers that be which cause the poor to fight each other. Like all good veterans, Pat Murphy damns both sides.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Calling all Americans
BTW
- Calling all Americans.. SORRY , SARA..
I'AM IRISH ....
JIM,,,
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Calling all Americans
kennedy said: "Why do you have a problem with some other people on another part of the planet having a parade?"
I don't. Parade away. Just find it impossible to understand the appeal and motivation. Makes no sense to me. Take no notice, I'm very eccentric...
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Calling all Americans
SWFL Fiddler, what's the name of that song?
And do you have any dots/ABC for it?
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
SWFL Fiddler said: "So quit playing Irish music and play world music."
Oh, I will, I will. As soon as I've learned all there is to know about playing the Irish, I'll move on and learn everybody else's. Just that Ireland is quite nearby and handy, so it's an easy place to start...I'm looking forward to getting into the Tuvan nose singing, should go well with jigs and reels
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Calling all Americans
I don't blame anyone in America for wanting to have a few days partying... I mean, their leader has screwed up foreign policy and brought the country to bankruptcy. Bit of a mess really.
http://www.gregpalast.com/elliot-spitzer-gets-nailed/
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: Calling all Americans
O.K., I went out and bought some corned beef, yes, knowing that it is an American food, it was on sale. It is simmering on the stove, covered in beer. I'll cook the cabbage separately, not sure how yet. Probably with lots of onions and potatoes.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
We had the whole corned beef dinner with Guiness and red wine, and will eat the leftovers all week. I wore my green shirt and family tartan tie (Dad, 100% Glasgow and Mom, 100% Armagh). I brought my flute to class and played session tunes for the kids, and explained what sessions are. I had my Comhaltas CD running all day between classes, and a VHS travelog tape from Ireland on the TV with the sound off.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Calling all Americans
Go with the cliche until your head hurts in the morning!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by nypiper127
Re: Calling all Americans
Let's be clear here - the concept of the big Saint Patrick's Day parade is indeed a uniquely American concept - pioneered by Irish immigrants more than 100 years ago. Yes it was jingoistic, ethnocentric, and vaguely militaristic. After spending so much time at the lowest rungs of many societies' ladders, it represented an awakening of pride and self-determination amongst the great diaspora. That awakening was key in the support for Irish independence at the turn of the last century. Irish immigrants in America went from the lowest ditch-diggers to infiltrating and having a controlling share of politics, and the police and fire departments of many large American cities (much to the utter dismay of the white Anglo-Saxon aristocracy) Now to our European brethren, no - we're not Irish. But we are Irish Americans. It's a distinct sub-culture spawned by desperate immigrants beginning 150+ years ago. I know we sometimes offend you all with our boorish behavior. But please if us we have a shout, a pint and a couple of tunes on our favorite day of the year.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Calling all Americans
**please FORGIVE us if we have a pint and a few tunes this time of the year..**
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Calling all Americans
AMEN!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Calling all Americans
Played some tunes and read some stories for my daughter's kindergarten class and son's daycare room.
At the daycare, the other room of preschoolers overheard the tunes and joined us.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by abuteague
Re: Calling all Americans
Thanks to Pirate-Fiddler for the explanation of corned beef and cabbage. When I first came to Canada from Ireland eveyone would ask why didn't I eat corned beef, and I was totally perplexed.
It all becomes clear - 27 years later!
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by grego
Re: Calling all Americans
wyogal - cabbage is nice chopped small and stir-fried in a little oil with onion and cumin-seeds till it's all tender.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by nicholas
Re: Calling all Americans
Thanks! I've tried celery seeds, too.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
Hi, Sara, hope you are well:
Calling all Americans?
That would include me, although I too wish like others that I could simply be a "citizen of the world". Too many flags and lines on maps to really do it as I would want to, too many "them's and "us"s, that includes my wishing I could just fly over to Ireland and get a job and stay if I wanted. Could I? Heh.
I am proud of my own culture's past positive accomplishments, and hopeful for more under better leadership in the near future.
Celebrate today? I do not, but I would not rain on yours or anyone else's parade. Go for it, yahoo!
Me, I would rather Cerebrate --- I just keep in mind all the lessons the history of the Irish people, worldwide, has to give us. Everything from Irish missionaries spreading good works for their faith to Irish mercenaries clubbing down poor Brazilians in Bahia.
I do not take pride simply because I came from the same gene-pool, that was sheer dumb luck. It may have given me a propensity toward some things, but I am not betting on it. As is well represented here at this site, people are people the whole world over, and there is no group or tribe any superior to the rest.
It was once the Saint's Day, but, as for me, I am not a practicing Catholic.
If I should ever become one again, more likely I will hike up Croagh Padraig than hit the pubs to comemorate Patrick.
Do what is in your heart. Have a grand day. Every day. All of you.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by Piece
Re: Calling all Americans
Yesterday I went downtown to our big St. Pat's parade just to look around. I found a couple of friends busking and joined them for the rest of the event. Lots of fun. We even were on the eleven o'clock news!
Tonight we are playing at a micro-brewery. I wish I could stay home instead. But maybe I will make a collection for wolfbird so he can get back on his medication.
# Posted on March 17th 2008 by feardearg
Re: Calling all Americans
Sleeping.
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: Calling all Americans
I put green food coloring in the eggs this morning...
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
That's for Dr. Zeus Day, I thought.
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by fidkid
Re: Calling all Americans
When did Zeus become a doctor? I thought he was a god. Just kidding, (Seuss). They do that at our schools here on Dr. Seuss' day, green eggs and ham and all that. really gross.
The cabbage is on, with onions and a bit of the corned beef liquid.
Boiling potatoes and will have carrots, too.
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
okay, but that's every day during an election year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPxPciXcJvc
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
oops - cross posted again. sounds good, wyogal - when it's done put it all in a pot pie. very traditional...
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
Seus became a doctor very late in life. An honorary doctorate, form Princeton or somewhere like that. He thought that was very funny
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by ...
Re: Calling all Americans
actually, I like corned beef hash, with two eggs, over medium, then doused with tabasco and maple syrup.....
great hangover cure!
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
nice video, btw
: )
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
I do not like green eggs and ham,
but I'm a vegetarry-ann
I'll celebrate with soda bread
and maybe highjack one more thread...
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
thanks - it's a classic for Dr. Seuss day!
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
thanks for the factoid llig - i thought he never received a degree at all
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by airport
Re: Calling all Americans
My Mom was Irish and my Dad was Icelandic so celebration is pretty much a way of life for me
), practice on the instrument a bit and retire early--which is my wont on a work night.
Today, I'm wearing a splash of green and eating corned beef and cabbage for supper (for the third time in the past week because my wife craves it this time of year). We're staying home because we gigged last night (nice to meet you Chris). I'll probably have a beer or two (I think there's some Heineken stout, I mean Murphy's, in the fridge
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by GDub
Re: Calling all Americans
gw, do you celebrate August the Deuce, too?
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Calling all Americans
"gw, do you celebrate August the Deuce, too?"
No. I never heard of it before you mentioned it earlier. I google searched and it seems it's more a US thing that was adopted from a Canadian celebration of Icelandic heritage. My Dad's family came to California by way of Canada in 1920s, but back then I don't think there were many other Icelanders in San Diego. By the time I showed up on the scene, they weren't all that attached to their cultural heritage--at least not obviously . My Irish Mom, on the other hand...
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by GDub
Re: Calling all Americans
I played some Irish tunes and learned a new one. Played a gig at a senior care faciltiy!
It's just another day in paradise!
# Posted on March 18th 2008 by Mandolynist
Re: Calling all Americans
Here's Stephen Corbet on St. Patrick's day and how an Irish pub owner in NYC is destryoing America
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?episodeId=164008
Scroll down and click on People Destroying America-St. Patrick's Day
# Posted on March 20th 2008 by Pirate-Fiddler