BougieLand

Well it's a holiday, sort of. This is one of those holidays that started off with a purpose and ended up being a day that Americans use as an excuse to drink a lot (New Year's Eve, Cinco de Mayo, July 4^th, you know). I actually had no idea what the historical basis of the holiday was. So here we go from Wikipedia:

Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a yearly holiday celebrated on March 17^th. It is named after Saint Patrick (circa AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It began as a purely Christian holiday and became an official feast day in the early 1600s. However, it has gradually become more of a secular celebration of Ireland's culture. It is believed that Saint Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland since before the 1600s. It was also believed to have served as a one-day break during Lent, the forty day period of fasting. This would involve drinking alcohol; something which became a tradition.

Originally the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. However, over the years the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.

In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland. Irish Society of Boston organized what was not only the first Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the colonies but the first recorded Saint Patrick's Day Parade in the world on March 18, 1737. The first celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in New York City was held at the Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1766, the parades were held as political and social statements because the Irish immigrants were being treated unfairly.

Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in America by Irish and non-Irish alike. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green-colored clothing and items. Traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched affectionately.

Yeah, okay. I quit celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the general public since some super inebriated co-worker spewed projectile vomit in my direction ruining a gorgeous pair of teal green slingbacks. Me and the holiday fell right out love then and there.

But let me wrap on a positive note… Five things to love about St. Patrick's day…

1. I look good in green
   
2. Pear and Sour Apple Martinis (both being green) are in abundance
   
3. Pierce Brosnan – he's Irish, I'll celebrate that
   
4. March 17 usually means Spring is not far away
   
5. Sean Connery! Oh, he's Scottish. Um – oh! Parades! Everyone loves a good parade.
   

That's all I got. Enjoy the day. Pear Martini recipe below. Any St. Patrick's Day thoughts?