The Luck of the Irish...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! That's right we have a day in America where one actually celebrates being Irish! Who knew?

It's quite an event here in the US of A; there are parades of green laden people in almost every state on March 17th and Chicago even dyes its river green! There are lines outside every Irish pub in the country from about 11am and absolutely everyone wears green.

Kids have leprechaun catching projects in school and school systems who constitutionally cannot permit the study of religious holidays, embrace St. Patrick's day in the classroom to teach about this beloved race.

If you don't abide by tradition the rest of the Irish loving population gets to pinch you! People actually purchase shamrock covered T-shirts that they save to wear just on March 17th every year.

Yet another benefit; if you say you're Irish, on March 17th you'll get a snog from many a passing stranger...something to do with the blarney stone???

It's interesting to me how Americans hold on so tightly to their heritage. When I first moved here I'd ask people where they were from, expecting them to tell me where they were born in this enormous country. Rarely did I get the response I was expecting; instead I'd get a break down of their Scottish, Irish, British, Polish, or Italian genetic input.

So, I'd ask, were you very young when you moved to America? Only to be told they were born here. Why don't they just say that? How confusing! I don't want to know where your Grandad was from...I want to know where you're from!

Anyway, no one likes to be pinched right? so, in another desperate attempt to fit in and become an American, I've spent my day dressed head to toe in a fine shade of emerald, dropping shamrocks in conversation, and am off to the pub now for some green beer...may the wind at your back always be your own...wherever you think you're from!