Not completely food related, but with St. Patrick’s day quickly approaching I had to do SOMETHING for the holiday. I’m not a huge fan of traditional Irish cuisine, but maybe I’ll get something up here in the next few days. Until then, here is the official Moorsfood St. Patrick’s post. I just realized how unexciting that last sentence sounded, so I am going to make an extra effort to make this interesting. You are getting my 100% here. Just so you know.
First of all
You should know the history of St.Patrick’s day. No, this isn’t just a day where you request the next day off work, drink green beer, attempt to do the worm(dance move), knock table over, cut your face open, walk home, and rip the seat out of your toilet. This day has tradition. Read on and feel informed!
- Most sources agree that St. Patrick’s actual name was Maewyn Succat. They also agree that Maewyn was kidnapped and sold into slavery at age 16 and, to help him endure his enslavement, he turned to God.
- Six years after his captivity began, St. Patrick escaped from slavery to France, where he became a priest, and then the second Bishop to Ireland. He spent the next 30 years establishing schools, churches, and monasteries across the country. He brought Christianity widespread acceptance amongst the pagan indigenous peoples.
- It is thought that St. Patrick used a shamrock as a metaphor for the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), showing how three individual units could be part of the same body. His parishioners began wearing shamrocks to his church services. Today, “the wearing of the green” on St. Patrick’s Day represents spring, shamrocks, and Ireland.
- The date of St. Patrick’s death is still up for discussion. Some say that he died on March 17th, 461 AD. Another possibility is either March 8th or 9th – the days were added together to get March 17th. What is certain is that the holiday came to America in 1737, and was celebrated in Boston that year.
Now that you are an expert, we can move on.
Second Order of Business
You need to be wearing some green. Why? I’m glad you asked, because I have even more information for you.
- The colors of the Republic of Ireland are a tricolor of green, white, and orange. The orange supposedly represents the Protestant population, the green the Catholic, and the white the peace between them. (Let’s just leave Northern Ireland out of this.) Protestants don’t celebrate Saint’s days. So the wearing of green is a symbol of Saint Patrick’s day and then Ireland, the Emerald Isle, in general. The day as a holiday with parades, green beer etc. is more of an American tradition than Irish, and of course on St. Paddy’s day everyone is Irish.
- For my more A.D.D. readers, if you don’t like getting pinched just wear green.
Thirdly (I just made that word up) Update: After careful research, I did NOT make that word up.
No matter what I said in the opening paragraph of this post you should make some Irish food to celebrate the holiday. Don’t know how to make any Irish food? I got your back! It’s what I do!
- Corned beef recipe from Alton Brown
- Irish Beef Stew Recipe at Simply Recipes
- Your friend John’s Personal Favorite – Irish Potato Chowder
- Why not, Guiness Brownies.
Musicalnesss. Speaking of making up words..
So while you’re wearing your green, you should probably make an effort to listen to some Irish music. Put away the Fall Out Boy albums for a change. It will only make you feel depressed! Emotional thoughts are not allowed on St. Patrick’s day!
- Your friend John’s personal reccomendation, DROP-KICK MURPHYS!!!
- My girlfriend likes them and her dad said he went on tour with them, Flogging Molly
- Thin Lizzy
- The Dubliners – Good Irish Folk Music
- The Pogues
Fourthly, Just a General Statement
What did God do on the 7th Day? He went down the Irish Pub, stupid. There’s nothing as wonderful as an Irish pub – its air thick with camaraderie, folk music and the smell of Guinness. Get yourself to an Irish Pub by noon on the 17th, start on the Irish coffee, move onto the Guinness, try a few Murphy’s, refresh yourself with another Irish coffee and end with half a bottle of Jameson’s. Quite simply, anything could happen.
Fifth…
Dance a jig. No, I don’t know what “Dance a jig” means, just do it. Ok, moving on…
Things you Shouldn’t Do and Should Thank John for Mentioning
- Don’t order an Irish car bomb. Think about it. I know they’re delicious but lay off for just one day.
- Don’t wear stupid shirts like “Kiss Me, I’m Irish”. No one would ever wear that shit in Ireland, and you’re just straight tacky if you wear something like that.
- Show up to work or class. Your professor will understand, and if they don’t.. Say you have bird flu.
- Search for a pot of gold. That’s just stupid.
Now that you are an expert on all things Saint Patrick, refer all of your friends to this blog, and tell them to donate all of their money to me. That’s a joke, I’m a non-profit blogger and my only goal is to educate you. Of course, you really want to give me money you can feel free.