Nope, you are not mistaken. St. Patrick’s Day is on Monday. That’s March 17 2008; that’s also how it’s always been. So why, may you ask, are people going insanely green today Saturday, March 15 2008? Well, that’s when the real story creeps in. The pope, in all his wisdom, wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of numerous drunken people roaming the streets on St. Patrick’s regular day. This is because it conflicts with lent- the time when you are suppose to purify your body in preparation of the son to rise again. 

Being a Christian myself, I can see the pope’s point. Jesus + Drunken People = Not a very good interpretation of the holy week. However, when a devote Catholic in my History class tries to tell the girl sitting next to me that she can’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, that’s when I draw the line. I don’t care if you’re Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist or even an atheist. You don’t sit around telling others how to celebrate their holidays. The pope, no matter his good intentions for this holy week, truly offended a lot of people. I respect what the pope was trying to do for the people who follow him. However, humans are creatures of habits and tradition is something highly held. Just because St. Patrick’s Day conflicts with lent every 152 years, this does not justify moving it.  

It is once every 152 years…  Truthfully, I think the religious calendar can handle that small blip. While I don’t mind others to start celebrating on a different day, the real problem comes when one of those others starts to tell a girl in my History class that she can’t celebrate on what day she wants. The truth is people are entitled to their own way of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day- that means on their own day, in their own time. 

If this wasn’t the case, then we all would be sober on the day of green. We would respect the fact that in Ireland St. Patrick’s Day is a holy day and drinking is usually not done. We would not have parades with little happy green lepercons and giant golden fill pots.  

Trust me. I got up this morning. I put on my face and I went outside wearing no green. When I looked at my calendar, St. Patrick’s Day did not magically move to today for me. It moves for others apparently, but not me. And that’s that.  

Early Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all those who are holding out until Monday and a belated Happy to those already Celebrating! 

XoXo 

Sari