St Patricks Day March 17th, Tuesday

Just so no one gets caught, its on Tuesday in the US.

St. Patrick's Day hangover followed by stumbling in to work at 1130 is on Wednesday, March 18th.

Is it a big deal here?  I kind of don't mind a quieter one, in New York after the parade, it would just sort of smell like used beer for hours. 

Not so much.  There are events happening http://www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday/ and some will use it as a feeble excuse to go and get a bit pished, but it is easy enough to avoid if you don't want to be in on it.

Vicky

Just so no one gets caught, its on Tuesday in the US.

It falls on a Tuesday in Ireland as well!

I happened to be in NYC 2 years ago at St Patricks Day - I couldn't watch the parade as I was offended by the number of people wearing IRA t-shirts.

That evening we had tickets for the NY Rangers - Boston Bruins hockey game.....the kids doing Irish dancing during breaks in play was just surreal. They were in the aisles unfortunately and not dancing on the ice!!!

I always think of St. Patrick's Day as Irish cultural pride day.  I don't get into the religious part of it, not being Christian.  I am a hug fan of Irish traditional music so I look forward to it every year.  My hubby and I don't have any gigs this year, but it falls on our open mic night so at least I get to play some Irish tunes for the occasion. 

My experience in London has been that the Irish themed pubs get super busy - Waxy O'connors etc, and a lot of pubs will promote guiness on that day.  I think I read about some parade this weekend, but not sure of the details.  Like Vicky said, you can definitely avoid it.  It is not anywhere near the full on celebrations in NYC or Boston.  But...it's as good an excuse as any to go out and have a laugh. 

I'll be popping to the pub near work for a cheeky half pint of guiness.  I'll be following the 1950's advice that it's good for a baby, lots of iron and all that! 

In Suffolk Co., Massachusetts its really Evacuation Day, commemorating the withdrawal of British troops from Boston during the War of Independence.    So a day off for workers in Boston.  Just happens to co-incide with St. Paddy's Day.

St Patrick's Day is actually a bigger deal in the US than in Dublin. The pubs will be full in Dublin, but I don't recall seeing any decorations. Meanwhile, the house down the street from my parent's is all kitted out and they're not even remotely Irish!

St Patrick's Day is actually a bigger deal in the US than in Dublin. The pubs will be full in Dublin, but I don't recall seeing any decorations. Meanwhile, the house down the street from my parent's is all kitted out and they're not even remotely Irish!

That's why Irish politicians go to the States for St Patrick's Day   You're right, not a lot in the way of decorations, although I've seen a lot more of decorations for the home, t-shirts and such in shops; more than I can recall in previous years.  Pubs all over will be packed. In Derry at least, the only time of year I think it's even more crowded in pubs is Halloween.  Another difference is that kids here will be out of school for the holiday.  My daughter is off both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Boston police are gearing up for the Big Day.  Apparently they will be issuing stiff fines for those too much under the influence.  Also using Twitter to notify parade goers of traffic changes.   

Here in Sheffield one of the pubs does a beer tent with live Irish band.

Everyone seems to forget St. Patrick was actually Italian and his claim to fame as it were is because he was responsible for brining Christianity to the Irish utilising the shamrock as a common means to teach the trinity.   

St Patrick's Day is actually a bigger deal in the US than in Dublin. The pubs will be full in Dublin, but I don't recall seeing any decorations. Meanwhile, the house down the street from my parent's is all kitted out and they're not even remotely Irish!

Unfortunately most people tend to be more patriotic towards their ancestry.  Especially when not living there themselves.  I know Billy Connolly commented on that during a Highland Festival in Canada on his "Journey to the end of the world tour"...  He said it to the guy "guiding him" through the festival and asked him doesn't it feel strange dressed in a kilt if you're not even Scottish or been to Scotland?  The guy replied back to him "there's just something about the atmosphere that just makes you want to wear a kilt."  I think the look on Billy Connolly's face after that said it all.      (He ended up being the only Scottish person there.)

Everyone seems to forget St. Patrick was actually Italian and his claim to fame as it were is because he was responsible for brining Christianity to the Irish utilising the shamrock as a common means to teach the trinity.   

I always thought he was Welsh.  I have certainly never heard anything about him being Italian....being 'Roman', perhaps, but half the world was Roman back then.

Vicky

Already (started) celebrated by having my first dinner party at my house last night - Irish onion soup (made with Guinness), corned beef & cabbage/carrots/potatoes, soda bread, the Irish bread/dessert that has items in it that foretell the future (forgot the name!), and Irish coffees!

Boston politicians celebrate with a Saint Patrick's Day Breakfast (even if they're not Irish!)
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18936319/index.html