Saint Paddy’s Day Myths & Misconceptions.

St. Patrick’s Day myths & misconceptions often have harmful effects as they create and promote negative Irish stereotypes.

• Contrary to popular belief, bars were not always opened for the Saint Paddy’s celebration. Pubs used to be closed because it is a religious holiday.  It was not the drunken revelry it has become in the past century.  It was a solemn time for the Irish to gather with their families, go to Church, then eat a meal of Irish bacon and cabbage as to pay their respect to the man who became their patron saint for his many  works as a missionary.
• Corned beef is Jewish not Irish. Irish bacon and cabbage are the tradition.
• Where and when was the first St. Patrick’s Day parades? There were no Saint Paddy’s Day parades recorded prior to when the Irish soldiers in the British Army had paraded through New York City in 1762.  It took awhile for the Irish to be accepted after dealing with racism during and after the days of the Potato Famine. Many Irish were ashamed to admit their Irish roots on account of being ridiculed and labeled with preconceived stereotypes. There may have been festivals with religious processions revering St. Patrick in Ireland prior to this, but nothing like the parades we have today celebrating a bunch of groundless myths.
• “Patty” is actually shorthand for “Patricia” the female version for
  “Patrick”. “Paddy” is the true proper shorthand for men. While this is a big deal with the Irish in Ireland, I figure most of the people searching for information on St. Patrick are here in the United States where I live. As such most will always get it wrong and use the Americanism, easier for them to remember since there is no “d” in Patrick. Probably why Amazon.com owns “StPatty.com” and since I do not want this site to be confused with “StPaddy.com”, I did not purchase “StPaddy.info”. So for any Irish out there I do apologize if this offends anyone. Only so many domain names out there that are available. ~Tom G.