Everybody's Irish! (Just Don't Pinch Me)

Originally posted at: 2BucksWorth. com

Faith and Begorrah! It' St. Paddy's Day! The day when people all over the world drink green beverages, wear green clothes, dream of leprechauns, and wonder what in the heck "Begorrah" is. (It's a euphemism for "By God", BTW)

Me? I love the Irish. Not a better, friendlier, more likable folk in the world. Then again, maybe the only Irish people who will talk to me are the extremely friendly ones. But the few genuine Irish folk I know are top notch.

But back to this holiday, it is remarkable that one country's national holiday has taken on such a worldwide appeal. When you see a man named Tyrone in Memphis, Tennessee dressed like he's in County Tyrone, you know that people everywhere take this holiday seriously.

Speaking of taking it seriously, the tradition I find most appalling about St. Pat's Day is the wearing of the green, or rather the ridiculous tradition of pinching people who forgot to wear something green. Oh, I know the "I'm wearing green underwear" excuse may work occasionally, but especially when I was a kid, if you forgot the green, you were getting pinched. (Never mind that for centuries the color blue was more closely associated with Ireland's patron saint).

I mean, really? You are assaulting me for not dressing up for an ethnic holiday? Fine then, since I am of Scottish extraction, if you don't wear a kilt on St. Andrew's Day, I get to give you a wedgie (wedgies are impossible if you are wearing a kilt, BTW).

But seriously folks, enjoy St. Patrick's Day, and please be careful. And if you happen to see a leprechaun in a bar, do not try to catch him or ask him where his pot of gold is. He's probably just a festive wee midg...uh..."little person", and you've had to much to drink.

Nolanbuck