What is the big deal about St. Patrick's Day?

Q: I'm not Irish so it doesn't mean much to me if anything. But I remember at least once a teacher picking on me for not wearing green. I felt badly. Why? I'm not Irish. I don't celebrate the holiday. Why I should have felt badly? Why did the teacher pick on me? Maybe he was just joking but I was the one singled out and I was being bullied pretty badly at that time. It just seemed like more ammunition for my tormentors. I'm sure the teacher didn't mean any harm to me. But it still bothers me. If you were bullied then I think you will understand. I was also very shy and quiet. I don't remember any pinching. I had a green belt on but that didn't count for anything. :-) That is a reason to celebrate. I root for the underdog.

A: It's a Roman Catholic Feast thing to celebrate St Patrick, who was a missionary in mid 5th century or something like that and is 'legendary' for driving snakes out of Ireland. And the whole day has now been heavily commercialized, especially in the USA because it's any excuse to make money like everything else. But also supposed to give a sense 'Irish nationalism But you're meant to wear green to stop the sneaky leprechauns pinching you, because, green makes you invisible to leprechauns and they're out to pinch you! So people pinch you to remind you to wear green. :P

Related items