Writer's Block: A Little Green

[fajrdrako]

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No. Most people I know think the day is a bit of a joke, or they just don't think about it. It's a holiday that seems to be associated with alcohol, and most of my friends aren't really drinkers.

Mind you, I'm celebrating with a party - why not? A Sarah Jane Adventures video-party. I'm sure I can think of some way to associate Sarah Jane with Ireland. And I'm giving my friends gifts. Is there any kind of gift-giving tradition associated with the day?

I like the idea of celebrating saints' days, and keeping medieval traditions alive, but all my Irish ancestors were Orangemen from County Down - makes me feel a bit of a fraud, waving around a shamrock.

Comments

[topgeargirl2.livejournal.com]

St Patrick was a real person and there is some story about him getting rid of Ireland of Snakes or something.

It big around here in Adelaide because there is a big Irish population.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a huge Irish-descended population here, so I suspect the day is pretty big with them. I'm Irish-descended myself, but Irish culture has barely touched me: my mother's family was way more into their Scottish roots.

The legend is that St. Patrick expelled the snakes from Ireland, snakes being a symbol of the devil. Since I love snakes, I've always been a little indignant about that.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I've always been skeptical that there were any snakes there to start with. If he'd expelled the snakes from Florida I'd've been more impressed.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd like the notion that he led them away on foot, with a flute, like the Pied Piper.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

There weren't, or not many. It's one of those silly stories invented to explain a quirk of wildlife.