Arts & Entertainment

St. Patrick's Day Silliness: St. Pat's 17 Days

All sorts of green crops up when the moneymakers try to make a buck off St. Patrick's Day.

It used to be that I was totally biased against stupidity. For example, I saw green fishnet stockings over the weekend and almost lost my mind.

On second thought, I have come to realize that even stupid things have their place. All the green stuff around St. Patrick's Day is no different.

The High Holy Days of St. Patrick is a phrase that typically puts me in the right state of mind for March.  I stole it from my former editor, Martin Hintz. He used it while I was interning at the Irish American Post during college.

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Today, like Christmas, the whole concept of a religious holiday has spiraled out of control.

You see, March 17 evolved from a saint introducing Christianity to a largely pagan island. Then when so many Irish emigrated to America, St. Patrick's Day became a part of their identity. Hence, the holiday has become about all things Irish.

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Today, so many companies and organizations have jumped on board to in order to make some green of their own. If they could slap a shamrock on it, they would make money. Where do we draw the line between opportunity and abuse? At what point do we throw the stupid flag?

In my mind, some things are old school. The first Mayor Daley dyed the Chicago River green for the downtown parade. That was cool. Later, we could get color-coordinated beer. That also gets a pass.

Then I started going around Shorewood and really looking at all the stuff for sale that gets special marketing this time of year. I had some expectations and some surprises.

For example, I've gotten used to the Beefsteak hearty rye bread getting a special shamrock bag. Everybody knows that you have to have rye with corned beef. It should be a law.

I was also not surprised that my regular corned beef that I buy all year suddenly comes in a package that looks like the Irish flag: green, white and orange.

Personally, I think bakery goods should be festive. I found all sorts of cookies and cupcakes and items with green frosting. That's fun. No problems there.

Have you noticed from your ad mailers that anything green is on sale this week? For example, at Jewel, pistachio delight is the salad of the month. It has absolutely nothing to do with Paddy; it's just green.

At one home improvement store, green cordless drills are on sale. At another store, I found a display with Irish oatmeal on one shelf. Below that were many shelves of Green River soda pop bottles. It should not have surprised me that this week grass seed is on special. The photo on the bag is of a lush lawn.

On the radio, I heard the Illinois Lottery has a special ticket for St. Patrick's Day. I guess that fits with the whole lucky leprechaun and pot of gold theme.

But what about Hostess Snowball cakes that are usually white? This time of year, they are died green. Have been for years.

Everybody has got a schtick to sell their stuff. What is one person's reason to celebrate is another person's moneymaker.

Even a purist like me has succumb to the marketing frenzy. I bought a green felt cowgirl hat with a light up blinking shamrock on the front. I couldn't resist the green feather boa stitched around the brim.

There is something inherently jovial about this Irish holiday. For many, the sillier or the stupider the better. Maybe I don't trot around in green fishnets. But who knows, maybe they wouldn't look so bad with my kelly-colored Converse high tops.


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