Yes, most kids spend Saint Patrick’s day digging out their green clothes, and most college kids just use the day as an excuse to drink, but what does the State High community do for Saint Patrick’s day?  In a random poll of students and teachers, only 29% celebrate this holiday. There are numerous reasons for either side. For people like Katie Spearly, junior, it’s simply because they have no reason to do anything special. Others acknowledge it, but don’t celebrate. Some fanatics go all out.

Saint Patrick’s day was originally a celebration of the feast day of Saint Patrick. According to History.com, the first street parade was held in New York City in 1762. There are many myths and legends surrounding Saint Patrick (originally named Maewyn Succat), but he was actually a missionary in Ireland. Traditionally, it was also a day for Irish immigrants to celebrate their heritage, but in recent years it has become much more commercialized.

Ava Fuller, freshman, has always honored the holiday. “I celebrate it not only because it is a Saint’s day, but also because my family is Irish,” she said. “My family has an excuse to eat with my grandparents, so they come over for dinner, and sometimes we get shamrock shakes because, you know, it’s festive. To persuade [people who don’t celebrate the holiday], I would probably ask why wouldn’t they celebrate it? It’s a reason to eat a nice dinner or hang with family and friends.”

Others have had similar responses. Mr. Bleil, a science teacher here at State High, said, “Saint Patrick’s day is always enshrined in my heart because it made everything green when I was a child. Green was my favorite color as a child, so I was always very excited to come to school in the month of March and take in everything with a green theme.”

There are often specific things that appeal to people about Saint Patrick’s Day. Bleil said, “We would have a Saint  Patrick’s day party with many green colored foods and favors. The absolute best of which I could only get outside of school, with the fabled Shamrock Shake.” Bleil also expressed his love for the Reuben Sandwich, a traditional Irish cuisine.

Adedayo Olorunnisola, freshman, who does not celebrate Saint Patrick’s day said, “I guess people can celebrate however they want, I guess that there are some cool traditions surrounding the holiday.” There are many reasons that people do not celebrate the holiday, just as there are many reasons that people do. One of those reasons is that they are not Irish, or Christian, and therefore the holiday has no religious or heretical significance for them. Some people simply don’t celebrate it just because it’s not something that their family has traditionally done. However you celebrate, or even if you don’t at all, just remember to be respectful and enjoy March!