Happy St. Patrick's Day 2024!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! As we celebrate this day, decked out in green, we potatoes are excited and intrigued to untangle some of the history that makes St. Patrick's Day a holiday that so many celebrate!
Delving into the roots of this verdant festivity, it all starts with St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Renowned, not for his mythical snake-charming but for his role in spreading Christianity across Ireland, St. Patrick apparently employed the simple shamrock to elucidate the complex concept of the Holy Trinity, forever linking this petite plant with the essence of Irish belief and culture.
Originating as a solemn feast day on March 17th, commemorating St. Patrick's passing, this day has spectacularly flourished into an exuberant global festival. Celebrated with gusto from Ireland's serene countryside to the dynamic streets of cities around the world, St. Patrick's Day now heralds a grand celebration of Irish heritage, replete with animated music, exuberant dances, parades and the merry clinking of ale glasses!
Let's debunk a myth or two, shall we? The tale of St. Patrick ridding Ireland of snakes is more fanciful than factual. The cool Irish seas likely served as a natural barrier against serpentine invaders well before St. Patrick's arrival. However, this legend still persists!
Another, darker, myth that has gone around online, is the myth that suggests that St. Patrick was responsible for the deaths of many pagans in his mission to spread Christianity across Ireland. However, historical evidence does not actually support this claim. Rather, St. Patrick is known to have used peaceful methods, such as preaching and teaching, to convert the Irish population to Christianity. There's no record of him engaging in violence against pagans or leading a campaign of eradication. While we potatoes do not agree with proselytizing, at all, and we personally view it as immensely harmful as well as incredibly rude (to say the least)…we did feel that it was important to provide clarification on this myth.
As we peel away layers to reveal deeper truths, we must acknowledge the complex history of St. Patrick's Day, a narrative interlaced with both Christian and pagan elements. While not initially a pagan holiday, at least not fully, its timing is very close to ancient celebrations of spring, a season rich with symbolism in pagan traditions. But, we potatoes do have to acknowledge that it truly was originally a more somber occasion than it is today, with the spring celebrations being celebrated later, like Easter/Ostara.
However, religious syncretism did manage to blend the holidays together. As a result, the modern incarnation, though a tribute to St. Patrick, is tinged with the hues of earlier rituals that honored nature's rebirth. As we celebrate, we feel that it is important that we remain mindful of the past's shadows, particularly the problematic aspects of religious syncretism. The appropriation of pagan customs for easier Christian conversion, without giving respect or clear acknowledgment of these origins, is a dubious legacy. We feel that respect, and clarity is owed to the origins so that we can find an even deeper appreciation for the power of human traditions. It's crucial to engage with this history critically, but we can still appreciate the day's joy while also honoring the depth of its cultural tapestry.
On a less serious note! We potatoes have said this many times, but we feel that one of the best parts of being human is the collective joy, and spirit behind our holidays! Despite the darker history that a lot of holidays have, we still find ways to make them our own, and find joy. St. Patrick's Day transcends mere festivity; it's a beacon of community, shared mirth, and the rich narrative that unites us. As we gather, toast, parade and dance, we're crafting new memories into the legacy of tradition!
When it comes to the customary feast, many might dream of corned beef paired with cabbage, but! You may be surprised to know that this pairing leans more towards an Irish-American invention! The culinary traditions of Ireland's past more commonly featured dishes like bacon or hearty lamb stew. We found this to be incredibly interesting as we lean towards beef dishes as well for this holiday!
Homemade shepherd’s pie, rosemary rolls, roasted broccoli, spring green salad with feta, fresh herbs, and olive oil, green apples, Guinness, and mini cupcakes! It was all delicious!! :)
In our own little corner, we've cultivated unique ways to revel in St. Paddy's Day, from our themed feast to movies that we feel echo the spirit of the Emerald Isle! We potatoes get a lot of joy out celebrating in our own small, simple ways, always doing our best to make the holiday our own! There can be so much pressure from our capitalistic society to go out, to go to parades, etc. We potatoes would like to remind anyone who may need to hear it, that it is ok to celebrate any and every holiday as you see fit to. It can be as big, or as small as you want it to be.
This year’s Itinerary!
1. Elemental
2. Ps I love you
3. Ned Devine
4. The Secret of Kells
5. Song of the Sea
6. WolfWalkers
7. Trolls
We potatoes are incredibly introverted individuals, and as such tend to prefer smaller, quieter get-togethers. For those of you who are more like us, and find themselves in a quieter, reflective space, we want to extend the message that fun can be found anywhere, and that how you celebrate is entirely up to you! Embracing the day with a simple walk, wearing a little green, a moment of solitude, or a cup of tea is equally valid, honoring the spirit of the day within your personal sanctuary, maintaining your mental health and calm.
So, let's enfold ourselves in the multifaceted spirit of St. Patrick's Day! Whether through joyous song, the warmth of companionship, or serene reflection, this day like any other is what you make it! Let's celebrate it authentically, mindful of its rich heritage and the myriad of paths our celebrations can take!
Here's to St. Patrick's Day, a day of heritage, and the intricate dance of life's continuities and changes! Cheers to the stories that unite us, the strength of the cultural practices that bind us, to the celebration of Spring and to you! May your day be filled with greenery, laughter, warmth, good luck and the fortuitous charm of the shamrock!
St Patrick's Day Drinking Game
Take a sip anytime:
1. You hear an Irish accent
2. Something magical or mystical happens
3. Anyone drinks beer or whiskey
4. Elves, leprechauns, selkies, or any other kind of fae folk are mentioned or on screen
5. You see someone wearing green attire.
6. A shamrock or clover is shown on screen.
7. A traditional Irish song is played or sung.
8. A pot of gold or rainbow is depicted.
9. You spot someone doing an Irish jig.
10. Anyone mentions "Celts", "Celtic", or "Druids"
Have you seen any of the movies on our itinerary? Did you love them? Did you hate them!? What films do we need to watch? Do you like this drinking game? Are there rules missing? Is the game too intense? What do you like to do to celebrate during this time of year? What are your favorite traditions? Have you come up with any new or different traditions? What do you think of this holiday? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know down in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly! (Drinks can be water, soda, anything nonalcoholic, etc. Please be safe, have fun and take care of you!)