Erin Go Bragh!
March 15, 2011
On Thursday, March 17, we will celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Why is a national religious holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland such a popular holiday in the United States? The emigration of the Irish to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the far-flung British Empire in the 1800s spread the tradition of St. Patrick's Day around the world.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. In fact, President Barack Obama can claim to be a son of Éire: his maternal great-great-great-grandfather Fulmuth Kearney emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1850. In honor of St. Patrick and the Irish, let's take a look at some of the Emerald Isle's national traditions.
While English is widely spoken, the indigenous language of Ireland is Gaeilge, a Celtic language. To illustrate the difference, here's House of Pain's "Jump Around" performed in Gaeilge.
What do you get when you cross lacrosse, baseball and hockey? You get "the fastest game on grass": hurling, the national sport of Ireland. The Irish have been hurling for 3000 years, so lacrosse, baseball, and hockey are mere upstarts. Ladies, don't feel left out. You can play camogie, which is hurling with a few minor changes.
If you've got a debate competition coming up, you might consider a trip to Blarney Castle. If you lean upside down and kiss the Blarney Stone, you are reputed to receive the gift of gab: great eloquence and skill in flattery.
When most Americans think of Irish dancing, they think of Riverdance, which turned Irish dance into a global phenomenon. However, Irish dance isn't just for Irish traditional music. It can be adapted to any form of music, as illustrated by this Irish dance to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face."
Finally, Ireland has given us a lot of really great popular music: Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, Sinéad O'Connor, Enya, The Cranberries, My Bloody Valentine, The Pogues, The Corrs, and Snow Patrol. Oh, and an obscure band you've probably never heard of called U2. Here they are performing one of their early hits, with a Gaeilge title no less: "An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart."
Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig,