Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth
Drove all the snakes from Ireland, here’s a drink to his health!
But not too many drinks, lest we lose ourselves and then
Forget the good Saint Patrick, and see them snakes again!
~Author Unknown
Spring is abloom, Easter holiday is in tow and the quest to find four leaved clovers is in full session. Every year on the 17th of March, many gather to celebrate the great Irish St. Patrick’s day. It appears that what was intended as a holy celebration of life by the Roman Catholic Church has become an avenue for drunken misdemeanours. The question however isn’t what arises out of this celebration but why it is celebrated in the first place.
History provides us with an account of St. Patrick as a Christian hero who drove the snakes out of Ireland. Following his death, the memory of his life has been generally celebrated on the 17th of March since the early 17th century. It is true that the lives of many Saints are celebrated and I have no problem with that however, unlike St. George who is indeed the patron of England, St. Patrick’s popularity and creditability are exclusively Irish. (This is not to be construed as an attempt to discourage the global recognition of foreign holidays). It is however alarming that the English are happy to ignore the works of the English patron Saint but are very happy to devote time, energy and money on the Patron Saint of another country. It is further alarming that whilst St. Patrick is awarded with parades and four clover leaf decorations, the life of St. George is merely recognised not celebrated.
For many who attempt to celebrate the occasion, it is purely an opportunity to engage in drunken unintended philanthropy as none too many (apart from the Irish) are actually aware of the origin or reason behind its celebration. In retrospect, retail giants such as Guinness, Murphy’s and Carlings feed on this ignorance whilst increasing their share capital and profit margins. For a society that has been bitten by the bug called economisation, it is interesting that we still fall victim to the claws of profit maximising corporations that are happy to invest in our ignorance and need to get drunk.
Like most holidays celebrated in the United Kingdom, St. Patrick’s day has fallen victim to the mass commercialism that surrounds our society. It would seem that for many the 17th of March is not a celebration of life well spent but merely an opportunity for retail monsters to tempt the unsuspecting public with green niceties which are irrelevant to our daily activities. In a period of economic crisis such as the one we find ourselves in at the moment, it is questionable whether such celebrations are necessary at all. Many may argue that temptation does not constitute imposition and as such is not truly mass commercialism. This is a valid argument but for the fact that it is a false argument. Many feel compelled to participate in a festival that they neither believe in nor necessarily understand in order to conform.
It would be ridiculous to suggest a ban on St. Paddy as this is very unlikely. It is however important that priorities are sorted out. If regard is to be given to the lives of Saints then perhaps we should start from home. For indeed it is acclaimed that charity begins at home not in the home of our neighbour.
Chinelo Awa
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