Happy St. Patrick’s Day
My first recollection, of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, was learning, in grade school, that one was required to wear green on March 17th, or face being pinched. While it may feel logical to associate green with Ireland, because of its landscape, the color is actually worn, on St. Patrick’s Day, because of its connection with the Irish fight against the British.
While the day is intended to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Ireland’s patron saint, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, for most, it is a day for making merry with parades, parties, and feasting on corned beef and cabbage; a boiled dinner which includes potatoes, carrots, and parsnips! (I also love Irish soda bread.)
I will confess it is perhaps the only day of the year in which I honor my Irish heritage, by dressing in green and making corned beef and cabbage; this year, however, St. Patrick found me on the road, dressed in green but missing my boiled dinner and delayed in wishing you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. I offer you a look at the Chicago River; post the cities celebration, dyed green.
