Irish-Americans Mark Feast with Somber Contemplation

Irish-Americans across the country gathered in churches, meeting halls and private homes to commemorate the Feast of St. Patrick with a day of thoughtful introspection and reflection.

“Irish civilization has been a well-spring of arts, letters, and philosophy that has profoundly influenced world cultures,” said a representative of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. “On March 17 of every year, we pause from our busy lives to contemplate the wisdom of our forebears and ponder the on-going role that Irish-Americans play in the economic, political, and religious life of the United States.”

Many spend the day debating great works of Irish literature, reading poetry, and learning about the lives of prominent Irish men and women, the representative said. Others engage in a more personal level of self-assessment, meditating upon the course of their lives over the last year, atoning for their indiscretions and mulling the direction they should take over the next 365 days.

The Hibernian representative dismissed reports that many Irish-Americans spend the day inside bars, drinking green beer, loudly singing obnoxious songs, and downing a sulfurous mix of cabbage, potatoes, and corned beef. “I’ve heard those rumors too,” she said.  “They’re nothing more than vicious English lies.”