I have Irish heritage, lived in Ireland for a while, live in Chicago, and unless my family hosts a St. Patrick's day party, have literally never worn green on purpose on the holiday and have never been pinched or harassed because of it. It's not standard in Ireland (and for those who say drinking excessively is not common in Ireland on St. Patrick's day, I'd urge you to perhaps update your perception on that because it absolutely is, at least in the cities). Beyond *perhaps* a slack message or two in our "random" channel, I don't think the holiday is acknowledged at my workplace and if someone tried to pinch me I'd probably hit them.

So, yeah, seconding those folks who don't see the issue. And if people are giving you a hard time about it, just ignore them. They're annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

In my mid-late 20s, we all would skip out 1/2 day on St Patty's Day and head to the bars. A big contingent of my office. It felt like playing hooky and was lots of fun.

Getting drunk at 2 pm. Classy.

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you make the same complaints about Cinco de Mayo or anything that may slightly deviate from your normal day?

I'm not remotely Irish and I enjoy the silliness of it all. My mom always made corned beef and cabbage and I'm not even sure that's Irish. I also make corned beef and cabbage.

I haven't been pinched since elementary school. I think you have a workplace problem.

No, because no one expects you to alter your behavior for Cinco de Mayo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Americans need to go from one consumerist "holiday" to another as a pretext to buy more crap and fill the emptiness inside. It's not fun, it's sad.

Yes! I dread the plastic crap DD will come home with. I throw it out after bedtime, then we have a meltdown in the morning.

Oneway to raise a hoarder who can’t throw things out when they are an adult. They need to throw it away themselves without fear.

Good point. Suggestions on painless way to teach them this?

OP, do you make the same complaints about Cinco de Mayo or anything that may slightly deviate from your normal day?

I'm not remotely Irish and I enjoy the silliness of it all. My mom always made corned beef and cabbage and I'm not even sure that's Irish. I also make corned beef and cabbage.

I haven't been pinched since elementary school. I think you have a workplace problem.

Anonymous wrote:The Catholics RULE in Holidays.

New Years Eve- Catholic -
Valentines Day - Catholic
Fat Tuesday - Catholic
Easter - Catholic
Halloween Catholic
Christmas - Catholic.

Most non-Catholics I know celebrate more Catholic Holidays than their own religion

Lol at Halloween as "Catholic." Mhm.

Anonymous wrote:The Catholics RULE in Holidays.

New Years Eve- Catholic -
Valentines Day - Catholic
Fat Tuesday - Catholic
Easter - Catholic
Halloween Catholic
Christmas - Catholic.

Most non-Catholics I know celebrate more Catholic Holidays than their own religion

We do like to have a good time.

Anonymous wrote: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.

In my mid-late 20s, we all would skip out 1/2 day on St Patty's Day and head to the bars. A big contingent of my office. It felt like playing hooky and was lots of fun.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 when I was younger it was fun to go out drinking with friends or whatever but never heard of this as a big workplace thing. Either OP is triggered and making a big deal or it's a very weird office.

My mom is 100% Irish with an "O' " maiden last name.

It's fun. For the kids there were always 'leprechaun tricks' and decorations with shamrocks and well wishes from relatives. We had corned beef and cabbage for dinner.

It doesn't have to be a drinking holiday...though 'seriously??" what isn't a drinking holiday nowadays---look at what has become of Halloween and 4th of July and NYE.

I think wearing green is fun and I remember the 'pinch' if you aren't wearing green as a kid.

Have a bowl of Lucky Charms and chillax. Nobody is making you celebrate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Americans need to go from one consumerist "holiday" to another as a pretext to buy more crap and fill the emptiness inside. It's not fun, it's sad.

Yes! I dread the plastic crap DD will come home with. I throw it out after bedtime, then we have a meltdown in the morning.

Oneway to raise a hoarder who can’t throw things out when they are an adult. They need to throw it away themselves without fear.

Anonymous wrote:Because Americans need to go from one consumerist "holiday" to another as a pretext to buy more crap and fill the emptiness inside. It's not fun, it's sad.

Yes! I dread the plastic crap DD will come home with. I throw it out after bedtime, then we have a meltdown in the morning.

The Catholics RULE in Holidays.

New Years Eve- Catholic -
Valentines Day - Catholic
Fat Tuesday - Catholic
Easter - Catholic
Halloween Catholic
Christmas - Catholic.

Most non-Catholics I know celebrate more Catholic Holidays than their own religion

Because Americans need to go from one consumerist "holiday" to another as a pretext to buy more crap and fill the emptiness inside. It's not fun, it's sad.

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.