St Patricks' Day..Whats It All About?
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day ~~http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPSf6fzyuk One more for the road!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOqWT2tk9Js Eric

getting drunk and fighting??? just kidding emphasis on just kidding

Eric,

Actually we do not celebrate it here in Italy, in the States is probably observed as a celebration of Irish and Irish/American culture, due to the high number of people with Irish roots.

My 2 cents

We do celebrate the feast of Saint San Gennaro which I rather prefer!!! Better Food!

Than annual St Patrick joke. An Irish seven course dinner is a six pack and a potato!!!

Green Beer & parades

A celebration by people who could not grow potatoes - which is what I always told my wife.

The Irish are completely bemused by the caricature the holiday has become here in the US, as are the Mexicans with Cinco de Mayo.

We have a habit of turning things into a gross, commercial enterprise.

Including Christmas!

I think Guiness is behind it!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness and corned beef! http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/CornedBeef.htm

And why they came~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nOAQAZqvsw

... not to mention Halloweeen that until a few year ago here in Italy we only knew of its existence because of American films; now all the kids act more or less like USA kids ... :-)

I love the Italians! Every day is a holiday!!! A different Saint each day to celebrate!! http://www.americancatholic.org/Feat...ts/bydate.aspx Funny no mention of St. Patrick!!!

Eric,

Well, not really, I think that belongs a bit to common places depicted in films, unfortunately we are always rushing like mads especially here in the North of the country.

One thing that sometimes tends to be forgotten is that in Europe Italy is one of the most industrialized countries, second only after Germany.
And we are proud of it as well of our "good cooking", and of our "immense historic and artistic heritage" that is sometimes neglected, but there is an awful lot of it, two weeks ago I was in Florence, that is known everywhere but just think that almost in every little village in Italy there is at least one castle and one old church ...

:-)

Sergio

Years ago I traveled a short time in your beautiful country. I saw the most beautiful art work and frescos in Florence and had the finest brick oven thin crust burnted edge pizza in Milan!!