Why do we have to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you work? I'm Jewish and it has literally never been an issue. Some people show up in green or wear fun shamrock things - whatever. I do vaguely make sure my daughter has something green in her outfit since she's in elementary school. Can't imagine this being a thing as an adult.

What the hell does your religion have to do with anything here? Should I add....Well I'm gay and it's never been an issue or...well I'm Hispanic and it's never been an issue. What are you doing?

I think she's meaning that she doesn't have Irish ancestors. A majority of white Americans do have an Irish ancestor, but that would be different for someone of Jewish descent who would have come from central Europe likely.

[Anonymous]

It's weird that St Patrick's Day is a thing I'm Irish American so I do something little at home, but I can't imagine this being a thing in the office. I live in a city that celebrates both St Patrick's Day and St Joseph's Day. On the former, I try to get out of the office before the drunken hordes start gathering and on the latter I pick up a box of zeppole for the office.

[Anonymous]

No one makes you wear green.

It's a fun day, whatever. No one even gets off work for it. Why do we celebrate Easter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one makes you wear green.

It's a fun day, whatever. No one even gets off work for it. Why do we celebrate Easter?

No, they don't dress people, but the pinching threats are stupid and juvenile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you work? I'm Jewish and it has literally never been an issue. Some people show up in green or wear fun shamrock things - whatever. I do vaguely make sure my daughter has something green in her outfit since she's in elementary school. Can't imagine this being a thing as an adult.

What the hell does your religion have to do with anything here? Should I add....Well I'm gay and it's never been an issue or...well I'm Hispanic and it's never been an issue. What are you doing?

Np - Jewish friends can correct me here, but from what I know many Jewish people don’t celebrate Saint Patrick’s day or Saint Valentine’s Day because they are holidays named after Christian saints.

Most Jews I know aren’t so uptight that they can’t see those holidays as celebrated in the US are no longer religious in nature. My Irish cousins don’t celebrate St. Pat’s with as much gusto as we do here.

OP, you could be less uptight, too. No one is forcing you to wear green.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one makes you wear green.

It's a fun day, whatever. No one even gets off work for it. Why do we celebrate Easter?

No, they don't dress people, but the pinching threats are stupid and juvenile.

I’ve never experienced that in the workplace. This is about your specifically weird co-workers, not something most people deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we have to celebrate Presidents' Day? And MLK Day? And Juneteenth?

No one actually celebrates those as happy holidays though other than an MLK parade and a speech at work. There isn't special food, special colors and activities (like leprechaun traps) associated.

I don't understand how someone can't remember what day St. Patricks is on- the date doesn't change! Just wear green- done. No one actually cares if you don't do anything.

Leprechaun traps are a dumb elementary school activity and have nothing to do with Ireland. I find them appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you that weak that a comment about not wearing green gets to you? I mean, buck up. It’s not a big deal and you’re not required to celebrate or wear green.

It's juvenile. Stop harassing your coworkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one makes you wear green.

It's a fun day, whatever. No one even gets off work for it. Why do we celebrate Easter?

.

I don’t celebrate Easter and I don’t do St Patrick’s Day either. When I was a kid (born 1980) it really was just an Irish or at least Christian thing where I lived. And we’re Jewish. So no go.

Valentine’s Day and Halloween were never problematic in that way for us - maybe because both holidays long ago dropped the religious connotation from the name, I don’t know.

Anyway, I don’t wear green or whatever and I don’t give it a second thought. No one has ever asked me about it either.

[Anonymous]

I don't really celebrate it and have never had anyone comment. Maybe find a green scarf or pin or string of beads and keep that in your desk. Then you don't have to remember and you can put it on to be festive.

I also think there are worse things than having these random holidays pop up. It brings some people joy and there's little downside in participating at a low effort level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you work? I'm Jewish and it has literally never been an issue. Some people show up in green or wear fun shamrock things - whatever. I do vaguely make sure my daughter has something green in her outfit since she's in elementary school. Can't imagine this being a thing as an adult.

What the hell does your religion have to do with anything here? Should I add....Well I'm gay and it's never been an issue or...well I'm Hispanic and it's never been an issue. What are you doing?

Np - Jewish friends can correct me here, but from what I know many Jewish people don’t celebrate Saint Patrick’s day or Saint Valentine’s Day because they are holidays named after Christian saints.

You are correct (from a Jewish person). Many Jewish people don’t celebrate because of the connection to Christian saints.

OP, you should figure out why you are so bothered by your colleagues comments about something so innocuous. It shouldn’t be a big deal to say “I’m not wearing green because I’m not Irish/I don’t celebrate St Patrick’s day or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Your problem is that you think you need to participate.

I never did. It's liberating.

[Anonymous]

You could try wearing green every day in March. I have a bright green winter coat and on March 17th, people always think it's a St Patrick's day special.

[Anonymous]

Because not everyone is as boring as you are. Some people are Irish or Irish for a day and live to get loaded or do fun tricks via a leprechaun for their kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, wear what you want. If you feel oppressed by a stray comment about your shirt color, seek professional help.