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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don’t! Never have and never will. I go all out for St Patrick’s day myself because my parents are from Ireland, but I have no expectations that anyone else will celebrate it.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've ever worked anywhere that people make a big deal out of St. Patrick's day, or even comment on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that Valentine's Day is over...

I'm not Irish. I'm not into drinking. I'm so depressed that remembering to wear green on a random March day so coworkers don't comment is basically impossible. Why do we make such a big deal out of thing and why do we force others into acknowledging it? I can't really think of another holiday where you absolutely can't get away with ignoring it completely.

You absolutely can ignore it completely.

I'm Irish and celebrate like a mature adult. I don't care if my friends celebrate or not. I care even less if my colleagues do.

[Anonymous]

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

Where did I say I feel oppressed? I think it's stupid that it's ok to comment on what someone's wearing. Elementary school, work, whatever. My kid isn't Irish...why do I need to buy him a shirt so he doesn't stick out? Why is this such a thing?

[Anonymous]

It’s a Catholic thing.

Don’t move to Austria - they have a “Saint” holiday basically every three weeks.

[Anonymous]

We.... don't? I'm a quarter Irish and generally don't "celebrate" St. Patrick's day. When I was younger it was an excuse to go out drinking on a weekday and get drink specials. Now I'm old and it doesn't register unless my kid's school sends out a notice about wearing green. But the school generally doesn't do much either -- it's not a school with a big Irish or Catholic contingent so I don't think most people care.

It is, at most, an excuse to drink a Guiness or wear a green t-shirt. I guess I do know some people with Irish backgrounds who view it as something of a way to celebrate heritage? But American-style St. Patrick's day is really only nominally about Ireland. If you want to want to celebrate Irish heritage, go take an Irish step dancing class or watch Derry Girls. Drinking green beer isn't it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a Catholic thing.

Don’t move to Austria - they have a “Saint” holiday basically every three weeks.

My DH is Catholic and doesn't celebrate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Where did I say I feel oppressed? I think it's stupid that it's ok to comment on what someone's wearing. Elementary school, work, whatever. My kid isn't Irish...why do I need to buy him a shirt so he doesn't stick out? Why is this such a thing?

Do you live in an area/attend a school with a very large Catholic and Irish community? If so, I'd just go with it and stop complaining. My white kid attends a school that is like 65% black. She participates in cultural traditions that she probably wouldn't participate in if she was going to a majority-white school. We don't view it as burdensome -- it's part of being a minority and it's an opportunity to learn about a background different from your own.

[Anonymous]

If any coworkers say anything, you can just say, "I'm not Irish and I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day." What is so taxing about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Where did I say I feel oppressed? I think it's stupid that it's ok to comment on what someone's wearing. Elementary school, work, whatever. My kid isn't Irish...why do I need to buy him a shirt so he doesn't stick out? Why is this such a thing?

You did say “so depressed.” A bit out of proportion to the situation.

[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.

Do you for real have coworkers who comment about your outfits and threaten to pinch you?
That's a workplace problem, not a St Patrick's day problem.

I'm as stereotypically Irish-American-Catholic as they come. I have a plethora of shamrock shirts I wear throughout the year. And never, not once, in my professoinal life have I commented on someone not wearing green and I can't ever think of hearing any other adult say something like that.

In schools, they "celebrate" it (and it's not like Valentines day with candy and party or anything) simply because it's a fun little something to break up the duldrums of the winter semester.

[Anonymous]

March is a long, boring month (aside from March Madness, for those of us who observe). As a school kid I hated March the most because it is the ONLY month that doesn't include a single day off school for a holiday. St. Patrick's Day breaks up the monotony a little as people step ever-so-slightly outside their routines.

[Anonymous]

I think you need a bit more strength of character if comments on your clothing choices are so upsetting. Whatever happened to “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Where did I say I feel oppressed? I think it's stupid that it's ok to comment on what someone's wearing. Elementary school, work, whatever. My kid isn't Irish...why do I need to buy him a shirt so he doesn't stick out? Why is this such a thing?

You did say “so depressed.” A bit out of proportion to the situation.

Yes, I struggle with major depression. It makes basic things that are easy for most people (like remembering a random day and having a clean green shirt) really difficult to accomplish. So where did I say I feel oppressed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a Catholic thing.

Don’t move to Austria - they have a “Saint” holiday basically every three weeks.

My DH is Catholic and doesn't celebrate it.

We are Catholic. We don’t do anything special for St. Pat’s. I also know plenty of non-Catholics/non-Irish who love St. Pat’s.🤷‍♀️