Many years ago I was walking down the street with a friend who had done some traveling, watching the St. Patrick's day parade go by, and he asked me 'Do you know how they celebrate this day in Ireland?' I looked around at all the people wearing bright green and drinking booze from Big-Gulp cups, and said 'Like this?' He replied 'No, they don't do anything except make take the family to church. It's no big deal at all. All this hoopla is strictly an American custom.'
I don't know if that's changed at all over the years, but I didn't find it surprising. Anyway, I barely even know it's coming until there's a parade and I see
throngs of drunken celebrants passing
through my neighborhood after the big party. I tend to avoid all the 'drinking' holidays.
Thanks for another contest, MV