Mar
Saturday Salon: St. Patrick’s Day Style
Shamrock
It’s St. Patrick’s Day today, and aside from the whole, wear green or be pinched phenomenon, (decided to put on Lady D’s dress from Monday’s Regency Project Runway since it has a lovely green element) I’ve never really done much St. Patrick’s Day reveling. From the extremely shallow research I did the last few days, I found that our English Regency friends didn’t do much holiday specific carousing either.
Our Irish 19th century friends however, celebrated the day as a religious holiday. But still, I found no sign of the Regency equivalent of green beer. In fact, because St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, much of the food I associate with the holiday isn’t even served today. (I’m not certain if the lifting of Lenten restrictions is more recent. I’m certain someone else here will likely know!)
At least…on that side of the pond. In the US, it’s all about the corned beef. Apparently the first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in America in 1762. And in America, where it became a way to reconnect to Irish roots, there developed some creative forms of expressing that heritage…such as dying a river or a fountain green.
How festive!
So today, after I step out of the Ballroom and the Lady D inspired dress, I will likely wear my favorite green shirt (the one I “borrowed” from my sister that says Mrs. Darcy on it). But what about the rest of you? Any St. Patrick’s Day traditions and how will you be celebrating today?
Mar 17, 2012
7:32 am
I have English descent – that part of the family coming over to America in the 1880s when the mines went bust. So, because of the English in me, I get teased by the Irish. BUT — I have a TON of Celtic in me because my family (on both sides) is Cornish, which is one of the Celtic parts of Great Britain. So, I have my Celtic silver heart on as good luck. I will also wearing my green hair band. I have to work, so I will be wearing my work uniform that has no green in it.
My faves for St Patrick’s day are green bagels. I had a true Irish lass as a work mate once and she thought that was gross. She said that in Ireland, they don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the way we do. I think it is a bit of the Irish descendants (the ones who like to tease me and others of English descent), who are the ones who spoke up and made it what it is today. Personally, I am glad they did. Any reason to PAR-TAY!!!!
Mar 17, 2012
2:04 pm
I’ve never seen a green bagel! I have seen green cream cheese though.
Have you been to Cornwall? That is one of the places on my “to visit” list.
Mar 17, 2012
4:46 pm
Yes, I went to Cornwall in 2005 and it is BEAUTIFUL there! I took along my Mom and until then I was the one was always said – why did our family leave England? They could have just moved to another part of the country when the mines went bust. When we saw Cornwall – my Mother was the one asking – why did our family leave this place? It is beautiful!
Mar 17, 2012
9:40 am
We usually eat corned beef and cabbage, primarily because we love it and can’t find it throughout the year.
We know it’s an American tradition and not truly Irish.
Mar 17, 2012
2:07 pm
I like corned beef and cabbage but so far I’ve been eating my every day food. Going to a 2 year old’s birthday party this afternoon, so it will be interesting to see if there is green cake or anything to celebrate the holiday.
Mar 17, 2012
10:39 am
Top O The Morning to Ya…
I will be spending it with family and friends. Will raise a few glasses of Bailey’s, I am not a beer drinker.. I have my shamrock on my lapel.. My shamrock scarf and I am all ready to go…
We will have Irish Stew and tatties for dinner and just have fun and celebrate our heritage…
Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you all..
Mar 17, 2012
2:07 pm
Yum. Sounds delicious and fun!
Mar 17, 2012
2:24 pm
I’m in Las Vegas today! Having a book signing and reader event tonight at the Little Chapel of Flowers, 9 pm. So anyone in Vegas, come on by! I may or may not be wearing a blinking green necklace.
Irish stew sounds soooo good. May have to find some of that for dinner.
Mar 17, 2012
3:44 pm
Ohh fun! You’ll have to let us know how that goes. Someone will get married, right?!
Mar 17, 2012
2:44 pm
Happy St. Paddy’s Day Everyone! I had such a busy morn getting things done so I could watch Lady Sarah and Lady Katharine along with Maya on Live Streaming that I almost forgot my Saturday visit to the Ballroom. They were great! Sarah is so delightfully funny.
Normally, it’s rather chilly on St. Paddy’s Day here in VA instead of nearly 80 degrees so we would have corned beef and cabbage or irish stew but since it’s too warm for those foods, my dh is smoking a brisket to use as pastrami and tomorrow we will have Reubens … tonight, it’s grilled teriyaki shrimp kabobs. I know not very Irish but then again, I’m only a quarter Irish whereas dh is half other half Italian … hey, at least we’re not having spaghetti and meatballs. LOL!!
I wear green every day of my life – green eyes – so sometimes I capitulate with the wearing of the green usually green sweater but like today, when I won’t be anywhere but home … I just go with the eyes. My Irish eyes are smiling today, how ’bout you? *wink*
Mar 17, 2012
3:45 pm
My sister, who has green eyes, can get away with that too. Not me, though!
Mar 17, 2012
3:39 pm
I’m wearing green pants!
Nowhere (that I’ve every lived) celebrates St. Patty’s Day like New York City. When I lived their we had an Irish pub, Finnegan’s Wake, on the corner of our block. It was like an extension of our tiny apartment and we ate there at least three times a week. Definitely not nouvelle cuisine – they made a mean bluecheeseburger. The owners and all the staff were Irish and the friendliest people. Even though the IRA “troubles” were still going on they never held my English accent against me. But the one day of the year we avoided “Finn”s” was March 17th. It was wild! The place was packed and green beer flowed.
I just googled it and see it’s still going strong (http://www.finneganswakenyc.com/). The interior – and menu – looks the same but they’ve added some outside tables. But we know the weather has improved since those days
Mar 18, 2012
1:59 am
Love your post, Sabrina! It wasn’t until I studied abroad that I realized how ‘American’ this holiday is.
My family always makes a big production out of this holiday. Full corn beef/cabbage/potatoes, sour dough bread, etc. But when I was younger, I took Irish step dancing. Growing up near Chicago, this meant that my sister and I were part of the parade (and we always took extra time to check out the green river!). Now, all I remember are the basic jigs.
Mar 18, 2012
4:28 pm
I need to see you dance now. This *will* happen.
Mar 18, 2012
11:35 am
My mother-in-law is half Irish, so we went out to the in-laws for corn beef/cabbage/potatoes/Irish soda bread dinner. With Irish coffee, which had Jameson Whiskey in it (by drinking that I have no Irish in me! Wow, it was strong!). Of course we all wore kelly green and a great time. My heritage is English and Norwegian, and my husband is Irish and Swedish. I always enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s day with the family.
Mar 18, 2012
4:31 pm
Yep, there’s no Irish in my side of the family. It’s all Eastern European.
Mar 18, 2012
4:43 pm
Ok, I am late to the party. Yesterday, I celebrated St. Patty’s Day at the Houston Rodeo, I was working. I wore a green beaded shamrock around my cowboy hat does that count?