I love St. Patrick’s Day. Who wouldn’t love a day that celebrates the Irish, usually with a round or two of beer? Mine will be brown, however, not green.

Save the date white block calendar for St Patrick’s Day, March 17, with Leprechaun hat, pot of gold, and rainbow, on green background.

I do have one pet peeve with the way this holiday is celebrated in the US. I cringe every time I walk into a restaurant and see a sign advertising “St. Patty’s Day” specials. Patty is short for Patricia. The proper nickname for Patrick is Paddy, a name once used pejoratively for Irishmen. Now there may be a St. Patricia, and she may have her own special day, I wouldn’t know, I’m not Catholic. But please stop emasculating St. Patrick! After all, he was a gentleman, according to an old sea shanty.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland,

My heritage is about half Irish, though of the Northern, Protestant, Orange variety, who celebrate the 12th of July more than March 17th. When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, my mother and grandmother always insisted we should wear orange on St. Patrick’s Day. Never mind that I look better in green! Then we moved to Southern California and I quickly discovered that not wearing green on March 17th meant complete strangers would pinch you. I rarely made that mistake again. Besides, I look like death warmed over in orange. So I will be wearing Green today.

In 2015, I cruised around the British Isles and spent several days in Ireland. Here are some photos of my favorite Irish places.

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Here’s my own St. Patrick’s Day wish for you:

On St. Paddy’s Day,
My wish for you
Is a large bowl
Of Irish stew.
And a pint or two
Of your favorite brew.

And may you be an hour in heaven before the devil knows you’re gone!

What are you doing for St. Patrick’s Day?

Linda / Lyndi