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

[Anonymous]

For those who don't want to wear green then wear orange and the world will know that you're a spoil sport and do boring people will go out of their way to avoid you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It's happened at multiple workplaces! And the kids' schools, obviously. I don't think they should be teased because St. Patrick's Day is the last thing on my mind and I didn't make sure they had green clothes.

For several years I have had a St Patrick's shirt available to my kids, and they have refused to wear it because they thought it was ugly. No one has ever been teased. My son also refused any idea or hint of wearing red on Valentine's day. No one cared. Both my kids are in elementary school.

Do you live in the DC area? Our school is really diverse economically and racially and this is just not a thing that matters to people who don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

As my dear Irish friend told me. "There are only two types of people:. the Irish and those who wish they were Irish " and she promptly tapped both shoulders and declared me an "Honorary Irish person for life.".

I wear 💚 green, have shamrock ☘️ earrings, and drink a green beer every March 17. It's called "fun."

That's so dumb. I don't wish I was Irish. What purpose would that serve?

It's a joke. You understand what humor is, right?

Jokes are supposed to be funny, though. I don't understand saying if someone's not Irish, they wish they were. I'd never given a second thought to wanting to be of a different background.

There's a lot you don't understand, isn't there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who don't want to wear green then wear orange and the world will know that you're a spoil sport and do boring people will go out of their way to avoid you

I don't get the orange talk. Is it offensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you agree it's ok to call someone out for not wearing green on a holiday they feel no connection to? Weird.

DP: That wasn't your original question. Of course that would be rude. I imagine the person doing such a thing understands that it is one of the fun party holidays, like Mardi Gras, and is calling you out for being a boring fuddy-duddy. And yes, that is rude of them. Most people don't do that though, so what is it that you are really afraid of, because most adults don't care if someone pokes them for not outwardly acknowledging any particular holiday? I sense something deeper in your question here, and the answer is likely that you should get help for the depression you mention.

What's DP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you agree it's ok to call someone out for not wearing green on a holiday they feel no connection to? Weird.

DP: That wasn't your original question. Of course that would be rude. I imagine the person doing such a thing understands that it is one of the fun party holidays, like Mardi Gras, and is calling you out for being a boring fuddy-duddy. And yes, that is rude of them. Most people don't do that though, so what is it that you are really afraid of, because most adults don't care if someone pokes them for not outwardly acknowledging any particular holiday? I sense something deeper in your question here, and the answer is likely that you should get help for the depression you mention.

What's DP?

Different Poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post is racist.

+1

How so? Irish is not a race. Celts would be Ireland and Scotland.

Maybe it started in ancient Rome two days after the Ides of March! The ghost of Julius was looking for Brutus, et al. But ghosts can't see green. So all the togas were dyed Green and instead of laurel wreaths it was a shamrock wreaths.

Some people still swear that ole Jules is out and about to get revenge.

[Anonymous]

I have trouble believing that anyone in your office cares what you wear. The only time I notice my coworkers’ outfits is if someone is wearing something Id like and then I’d compliment them and ask where they got it. Not in a Regina George way either.

I’m first generation born here, so I use it as an excuse to bake my grams’ soda bread and distribute it to neighbors and bring a loaf to the office in pre-COVID times. I’ll probably dance somewhere with my Irish dance studio this year and have some beer since it’s a Friday. My kids will want corned beef. I’ll put the younger one in a green shirt and my husband will wear his shamrock tie to work. I only judge you if you wear a shirt with a clover instead of a shamrock and think it’s Irish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who don't want to wear green then wear orange and the world will know that you're a spoil sport and do boring people will go out of their way to avoid you

I don't get the orange talk. Is it offensive?

In Northern Ireland, orange is the traditional color of the Protestant side. There's a large fraternal order called the Orangemen, who used to do marches through the Catholic part of town as a provocation.

Outside of Ireland and maybe Glasgow, very few people will notice someone wearing orange on St. Patrick's day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who don't want to wear green then wear orange and the world will know that you're a spoil sport and do boring people will go out of their way to avoid you

I don't get the orange talk. Is it offensive?

Orange represents the Protestants. Green was the Catholics. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrating the Catholic saint. But I sincerely doubt many people in the US a) care b) would know that orange represented anything.

[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.

Oh please.

You are depressed? Don't celebrate. Your coworkers must loathe you with this attitude.

[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.

What are you talking about? I've worked in offices for 2 decades and never heard of or witnessed a "pinching threat."

[Anonymous]

Oh please. It’s like drinking a margarita on cinco de mayo. It’s fun if you’re into it but if you’re not, don’t! It’s not a big deal. If your coworkers are super into it just put on a green accessory that day (or don’t! Whatever!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh please.

You are depressed? Don't celebrate. Your coworkers must loathe you with this attitude.

The problem here is OP's untreated depression. Not people wearing green to work.

[Anonymous]

No one is forcing adults to celebrate saint Patrick's day. The Irish don't even celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, just Irish Americans.