It’s a needed break between Pi Day and April Fools Day.

I first heard this joke on St. Patrick's Day a few years ago.

"An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone, one at a time.

The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time. And so one, each evening for a week. Finally, the bartender broaches the subject “I don’t mean to pry, but why you always order three beers at a time?”

‘Tis odd, isn’t it?” the man replies, “You see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia. We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond.”

Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers. The bartender pours them with a heavy heart. The bartender offers a quiet prayer for the soul of one of the brothers. After some hesitation, he approaches the man. “I want to offer condolences to you for the death of your brother. You know – the two beers and all…”

The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, “Oh, no both brothers are alive and well… I just gave up drinking for Lent.”

I can't believe someone took the time to start this ridiculous thread. You don't have to celebrate anything you don't want to celebrate. Wear green or don't. No one cares. And no one is shaming you, so you can stop that narrative right there.

As others have said, it's more of an Irish-American than an Irish holiday. Indeed, the origins of the holiday are quite different in New York City and in Boston.

In NYC, it was a religious thing. Parade started as a reaction to the Know Nothing Party. The archdiocese of NY's patron saint is St Patrick and its cathedral is St. Patrick's. So originally, it was more a celebration of Catholicism than of the Irish.The cardinal always comes out and blesses the parade and the Church determines who can officially march in the parade and the slogans that can be used. "England Out of Ireland" was about as far as the Church would let people go back in the day. Histoically gays were not allowed to march under a banner saying they were gay.

It almost always happens during Lent and if it falls on a Friday, the archdiocese of New York grants everyone a dispensation so they can eat their corned beef. (Normally Catholics can't eat meat on Fridays during Lent.) Lots of people who give up drinking for Lent make an exception for St Pat's. Frankly, the dispensation is granted because Irish pubs do a lot of business on St. Pat's but when it fell on a Friday they got very few customers and so they petitioned for the dispensation.

Boston St. Pat's was never a religious event. In Boston itself, the day is a holiday. It's NOT St. Pat's. It's "Evacuation Day," which is only a holiday in Suffolk County (Boston) and not across the river in Cambridge of for that matter in the rest of Massachusetts. The St Patrick's Day parade isn't on St. Pat's but rather on the Sunday after it.

If you're not Irish, nobody cares if you celebrate. It's mostly in large cities with lots of Irish-Americans that it's anything approaching a big deal.

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.

Because of white supremacy?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is your refrigerator running?

Again, incredibly overdone.

My Dad's Irish. We don't really celebrate St. Patrick's day either.

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.

Is your refrigerator running?

you don't have to.

signed, a Irish-American from Boston.

You don't. My mom is Irish (born and raised) and we never celebrate it at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to wear green. You DO have to compliment my Nana's kickass soda bread recipe when I bring that yummy goodness in to share.

BTW, we took note of who was sad when the queen died and filed that away. The soda bread is not for you.

You are my new favorite poster. Can I come enjoy some of Nana's soda bread?

Of course! I decided to make one early because of this thread. The Kerrygold is softening on the counter right now.

Bleck- no raisins!! We have Americanized ours. But melted butter on top and sprinkle with sugar b4 baking. Taste wonderful!! Adds sweetness, 300 calories and a increase in risk for heart disease!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to wear green. You DO have to compliment my Nana's kickass soda bread recipe when I bring that yummy goodness in to share.

BTW, we took note of who was sad when the queen died and filed that away. The soda bread is not for you.

I love Soda bread but I've never been brave enough to try to make my own.

Incredibly simple. This makes a huge loaf so you can have it if you want. It is a fresh bread so it dosn't keep well past 3 days at most. I put raisins in mine

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/its-almost-st-patricks-day-heres-a-recipe-for-irish-brown-soda-bread-thats-hearty-and-easy-to-make/

Anonymous wrote:You don't have to wear green. You DO have to compliment my Nana's kickass soda bread recipe when I bring that yummy goodness in to share.

BTW, we took note of who was sad when the queen died and filed that away. The soda bread is not for you.

You are my new favorite poster. Can I come enjoy some of Nana's soda bread?

It’s just a reason to drink or have a party. No need to participate.