Las Páginas en Blanco de St. Paddy's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

As with almost every holiday, St. Patrick's Day has changed quite a bit from its original meaning. Today, when most Americans think of St. Paddy's Day, we think of parades, green clothes, and, of course, the Shamrock Shake. However, I learned from an interesting NPR article that the true story behind all the green is a sad tale. 

The green food on St. Patrick's day most likely dates back to the Irish potato famine in the 1840s: "People were so deprived of food that they resorted to eating grass. In Irish folk memory, they talk about people's mouths being green as they died." Though most Americans do not really think twice about why they are wearing green or eating a green cupcake, I think it is important to remember the true meaning of holidays. I do not think there is anything wrong with enjoying a Shamrock Shake or going to a St. Patrick's Day parade, but we should not forget the morose history which is often hidden by an artificial green dye.

Another aspect of St. Patrick's Day that is often not talked about is the fact that gay and lesbian Irish groups have not been allowed to march openly in the New York City parade (the biggest in the country with over 1 million spectators and 200,000 participants [BBC]). Though Ireland's prime minister, Enda Kenny (who walked in this year's NYC parade), said, "[Saint Patrick's Day] is about Irishness, not sexuality," many people strongly feel that Irish gay-rights activists should be allowed to march in the New York parade. Personally, I think it is outrageous that gay and lesbian groups are not allowed to "march openly" in the parade. I believe Kenny and others who support keeping gays from marching in New York's St. Patrick's Day parade are supporting a tradition of hate and prejudice against gays.

How do you feel about the truth behind St. Patrick's Day? 

New York St. Paddy's Day Parade