March 1995
We all love a good holiday celebration. St. Patrick's day is not only a celebration, it's also a unique excuse to indulge. No other time of the year is it socially acceptable to drink green beer or pinch friends in various places on their bodies. And, unlike many other holidays, you don't have to buy anyone a present.
St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco is a celebration for the young and the old that lasts from morning until night. One of the wildest Irish celebrations happens every year at Pat O'Sheas Mad Hatter on Geary Street. "It's the biggest night of the year, bigger than when the 49ers won the Super Bowl. We start pouring at 9 a.m. and don't stop until 2 a.m.," says Peter Ahern, a bartender of nearly four years. But Ahern recognizes that there's more behind the tradition on this day than alcohol consumption. "I don't think the Irish Americans really have any idea of the history behind St. Patricks day, it's just another excuse to party," says Ahern.
Not every Irish American dismisses the culture behind this holiday. May Loughran, an Irish American and longtime resident of San Francisco, recalls family members telling her the St. Patrick's story as a small child. "St. Patrick was a marvelous teacher, a beautiful Christian man, and he fell in love with Ireland from the start," says Loughran. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a day to be spent with the family. The Irish go to church, have picnics, play football and race horses. "They celebrate and have fun as we do here, but the corned beef and cabbage is mostly an American tradition," says Loughran.
According to textbooks, St. Patrick was born in either 385 or 386 AD in the country now known as Scotland. He lived for many years in southwestern Britain. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold to Ireland as a slave. Years later, he escaped Ireland and began studying Christianity. Legend says it was a dream that finally led St. Patrick back to Ireland. St. Patrick remembered hearing the Irish calling, "We pray the holy youth to come and walk amongst us as before." St. Patrick eventually returned to Ireland and became known as the patron saint of the Irish.
Today Ireland is known as the country of saints and scholars. This is greatly attributed to St. Patrick. "He took a country that was nothing and made it into something," Loughran says. But where does the tradition of wearing green come from? Ireland as a country is known for it's lush, green hillsides, clovers, and shamrocks. "Green is the color of Ireland. In southern Ireland you can be sure everyone is wearing green on St. Patricks Day," says Loughran. As for the custom of pinching one another-who knows?
We all have different ideas about what a celebration is. L. Lynch, an Irish American from Anchorage, Ala., says, "On St. Patrick's Day we paint a big green stripe down the street. There is lots for everyone to do. Not everyone is drinking, that's just a stereotype."
On St. Patrick's Day many different people celebrate for many different reasons. If you aren't Irish or religious, and you're just looking for an excuse to go out, you are among many. May Loughran smiles as she says, "Just remember, everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day."