St. Patrick's Day Musings

I should have known it was coming. They day that the Triangle Community Center announced the date of the annual Irish Wake--our annual St. Patrick's Day celebration--should have been the first and only clue I needed. For the past few years, the day of the Irish Wake has been Winter's last gasp, a final reminder that it is still Winter, at least for a few more days. And yesterday, beginning around midnight, we got dumped on--rain, sleet, snow. We are still digging out late this monring because, even if it was not a record snowfall, what did come down froze.

In this country St. Patrick's Day is more about celebrating Irish heritage than it is celebrating the saint who, according to legend, christianized Ireland. In my younger days I would occasionally wear Orange on St. Patrick's Day because my Irish forbears were Prebyterians from County Antrim in the north. Talk about vehement, and sometimes violent, reactions! The controversy over the Rainbow Presence often pales in comparison. The Troubles in Northern Ireland show just how tangled religion and politics often are. Which is why it should not have suprised us over 10 years ago when the Ancient Order of Hibernians used religious arguments to keep the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization from marching in New York City's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Using a religious argument to keep a group of people from participating in what is one of the biggest cultural events in New York City. Another fact of life.

Finally, take a look at Clerical Whispers, the blog of an Irish Roman Catholic priest (at least as far as I can tell from what he writes about and what little he has said about himself). In general, it is an interesting outside (i.e., non-U.S.) look at things religious and political. For today, however, take a look at "St. Patrick's Breastplate" in both Irish and English.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Peace,
Jeffri