As I questioned unsuspecting civilians about their St. Patrick’s Day traditions for the paper’s Street Talk feature, I realized that I didn’t know all that much about the holiday. I realize there are religious undertones to the holiday, but I think its safe to say that today its origins have been overshadowed by secular celebrations. Maybe it’s a good idea to reacquaint ourselves with some essential St. Patrick’s Day knowledge before getting out our shamrock hats.
    March 17 is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. According to The History Channel, there are a lot of misconceptions about what St. Patrick actually did in his lifetime. According to this source, Patrick was born in Britain and only ended up in Ireland because he was taken prisoner by a group of Irish men, who attacked his family’s home. Patrick also didn’t introduce Christianity to Ireland, but rather he was called upon to work with the Christians already living in the country. Apparently, the snake banishing story is also false. Patrick is credited with the creation of the Celtic cross, which was meant to symbolize the joining of Christianity with native beliefs through the joining of the sun with the cross. The shamrock also has its origins in ancient Ireland, when the plant was believed to symbolize spring and rebirth.
    The largest St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in New York City. According to some reports, the first official parade was held in NYC in 1762 and the participants were Irish soldiers serving in the English military. Now parades take place all over the country, including Portland.
    After all of the marching, parade goers will need refreshments and there are plenty of Irish dishes to sample. The most popular is of course corned beef and cabbage, although, the dish may not be as traditional as some people would believe. In my research, I discovered that the dish is an “Americanized” version of Irish food. One account suggested that beef was an expensive delicacy and rarely eaten. The term corned beef comes from the kernel size pieces of salt that were used to preserve the meat. When they reached the U.S., some Irish immigrants ate beef more frequently because it was widely available and inexpensive. One of the dishes they prepared was boiled meat with cabbage.
    Another popular dish is Bangers and Mash, which is sausage served with mashed potatoes and onion gravy. If you are headed out for an Irish breakfast at the local pub, you most likely will also encounter soda bread, lamb, and all sorts of variations on the potato.
    To wash all of that hearty food down, you will have your green beer and your Guinness, of course. Green beer is another American invention. Guinness actually has an extensive history, dating back to the 1700s. Arthur Guinness had to fight Dublin officials for access to the water he used in his brewery. According to the legend, he threatened the officials with a pickaxe. Here is a St. Patrick’s Day challenge: see if your bartender can draw a shamrock in the head of the beer while pouring it.
    This is by no means a complete guide to St. Patrick’s Day, but it should help you navigate any celebrations you should happen upon. Perhaps the most important thing to know is the term Slainte, pronounced Slahn-cha, which means cheers.
    No matter what misconceptions exist about the holiday, when St. Patrick’s Day comes around, it is completely acceptable to claim Irish descent even if it may be stretching the truth.