It’s St. Patrick’s Day again but no celebrations or parties have been held anywhere for two years now. My last recollection of one in the Westmeath Hall was of Eric Blackwell. Not only was he wearing a dreadful looking green tie – it matched his green hair. And I thought he was balding!
Usually on St. Patrick’s Day March 17th, millions of people will don green and celebrate the Irish with parades, good cheer, and perhaps a pint of beer. But few St. Patrick’s Day revelers have a clue about St. Patrick, the historical figure. “The modern celebration of St. Patrick’s Day really has almost nothing to do with the real man,” said classics professor Philip Freeman of Luther College in Iowa. We still repeat the Irish blessing though; “May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.”
Significantly, St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to March 17 each year. At least Covid didn’t wreck that occasion. Couldn’t all provinces be so lucky!
In some cities, notably Toronto and Montreal, large scale St Patrick’s Day parades were held, often on the Sunday closest to March 17. The parade in Montreal had been held every year since 1824. However, the first recorded celebration of St Patrick’s Day was in 1759 by Irish soldiers serving with the British army following their conquest of part of New France, a French colony in North America.
People who have an Irish background or enjoy Irish culture may hold Irish themed parties and serve traditional dishes, such as Colcannon or Irish stew. Colcannon is a dish of mashed potatoes mixed with kale or cabbage and Irish stew is traditionally made with lamb and root vegetables. Traditional Irish drinks include stout, a dark beer, and whiskey. Other parties may be themed around the color green. Guests may be expected to wear green clothes and only green food and drink is served.
In some places there are Irish cultural events. For instance, the Irish Association of Manitoba organizes a three-day festival of Irish culture in the week of St Patrick’s Day.
It’s the end of an era in Douglas, known as the Irish Capital of Canada, in no small part due to the famous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations hosted at the Douglas Tavern. After nearly five decades of parties, shindigs, and get-togethers, the tavern has been sold and will be converted into a warehouse. The population normally swells from a couple hundred to thousands on March 17th. Now, not even time for a farewell party.
Personally, I am more fortunate on this occasion than most. For years, Sheila has decorated for each holiday season beginning with Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Paddy’s Day and wrapping up with an Easter theme. Since my maternal grandfather came from Ireland, I feel both compelled and privileged to go onto the veranda and conjure up St. Paddy recollections as desired, even if festivities are closed down elsewhere. If too cold outside, I simply peer out the window.
Previous to the pandemic, Douglas was annually invaded by shamrock-clad wee folk and leprechauns big and small. It become ground zero for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Ottawa Valley. The Douglas Lions Club hosted the well-attended major parade for the evening occasion. Beachburg Lions were always there to support them. An Irish Ceilidh (concert) by Art Jamieson outside the tavern took place while inside on-stage, the best local Irish talent pranced their stuff.
March 17th was a homecoming for many local families, with an excuse to gather, tell stories, hear live music and toast each other, sometimes to excess. Thirsty customers tended to show up as early as 9 am at the bar, clamoring for a drink. The tavern would be so packed with revelers the party usually spilled out into the parking lot in a Mardi Gras kind of festivity. People weren’t breaking the law but certainly they were bending it.
I can vouch for the boisterous carrying on in the Douglas tavern. One year, I was there as a reporter for the Cobden Sun. Despite the long line-up waiting their turn to enter, I was welcomed in to see first-hand just what the Valley was raving about. I’ll never forget my elation.
