quicko: happy st. patrick's day!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Australians, it turns out, aren't all that big on St. Patrick's Day.  (Or Martin Luther King Day or Thanksgiving or President's Day.)  They don't really mind if you wear green, but they see no need to be pinched for neglecting their duties themselves.  They take the same blase attitude they show Halloween:  "Oh, huh, it's (fill in your choice of major holiday here)?  What's the date?  You guys celebrate that much in the States, huh?"

There are so Irish in Sydney, but not tons.  And historically there are some waves of Irish immigration, but also not tons.  Even though it's easy to think of Australians as the same mutts as Americans, they tend to be more Scottish and English than Irish.  Either that or the Irishness has just been completely removed from their social calendar.  Except, of course, the drinking part.

In case you are a concerned Australian wishing you knew more of this illustrious holiday, here are a few helpful hints to get you thinking in the right direction for next year:

• First and foremost, WEAR GREEN!!!  Otherwise, you will get pinched!
• Everyone can celebrate St. Patrick's Day -- you do not have to be Irish!
• Appropriate decorations are all green and generally include shamrocks.
• If you'd like to set a leprechaun trap, they get put out the evening of the 16th.
• (St. Patrick's Day -- I really shouldn't have to say this -- is every year on March 17th.)
• If you are a drinker, Guiness is appropriate; if you're not, green food coloring in any beverage (milk works particularly well) is good, too.  It can be added to food as well, of course.  (Mashed potatoes, etc.)
• The traditional meal is corned beef and cabbage.
• The traditional form of poetry is the limerick.  Write limericks for your friends if you can.
•  A sample limerick:
  
  
  Happy St. Patrick's Day!
  Good luck catching a leprechaun at play.
  Wear green, of course,
  Or a pinch will be yours,
  And kiss me, I'm Irish, hooray!