The classroom was in one of the oldest buildings on campus, and its soaring ceilings and ornate architecture were in stark contrast to the plastic chairs and faux wood desks. I sat hunched over mine, furiously taking notes on Dr. LoPresto’s lecture on today’s topic in Introduction to Psychology. As a first semester freshman, I had not yet learned that verbatim note taking was inefficient and exhausting.
The lecture became a conversation, as Dr. LoPresto attempted to engage us in a discussion about gender roles. One cute guy in the back of the room raised his hand, and began sharing how having seven older sisters has had a huge influence on his development.
Seven sisters. There were two big families in my high school that everyone knew about – the Nasons and the Clavins. With seven siblings in each brood, these two Irish-Catholic families were unusual in our predominantly Protestant community.
Now I was at a Catholic college, and Protestants were in the minority. As a Jew, I didn’t even register as a minority, but I was fascinated by my simplistic and juvenile observations of my Catholic classmates.
I was not particularly aware of other religions when I was a child or a teenager. I was in high school before I knew that Christians were either Protestants or Catholics, and well into my first year of college before I knew what that difference between the two was.
What I knew was completely stereotypical, and the guy with seven sisters simply reinforced my assumptions. Catholics have large families and do not use birth control, and these two facts are usually connected. Catholics are typically Irish or Italian, and the letter “O” figured prominently in most surnames. If you are Irish, it’s at the beginning; if you are Italian, it’s at the end.
As I became more educated, I learned that my sweeping generalizations were just that. I learned that while more than a few formerly good Catholic girls turned into co-eds with very loose morals, most of my peers were just like me.
They were just like me until one weekday in February. As I walked across campus to my first class, I passed a girl who had dirt on her forehead. Then I passed a trio of guys who had similarly soiled faces. As I walked past the chapel, I saw a large group of students emerge, and every one of them had schmutz on their faces.
For fear of looking like an idiot, I waited until I could ask a friend what was going on. This is how I learned about Ash Wednesday.
About a month later, I was introduced to St. Patrick’s Day. For eighteen years, March 17th had just been another day on the calendar. I never wore green because it washed me out, and the only corned beef I ate was on rye with a dill pickle on the side. My idea of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was eating a bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast.
That is a completely inadequate celebration when you go to a Catholic college. Pair lots of Irish-Catholic teenagers with a day that encourages alcohol consumption, and you have a major holiday on your hands. Throw in the fact that March 17th was a Saturday that year, and you have a bacchanal.
I was not a stranger to drinking on holidays. Let me rephrase that; I was aware that alcohol could be a significant part of a religious holiday celebration. Four cups of wine are consumed at a Passover seder, and the blessing over the wine was one of the few Hebrew prayers that I knew since childhood.
The drinking on St. Patrick’s Day, however, seemed to have nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with getting drunk.
As an adult well past that age of drinking simply because it’s prohibited, I have little to do with St. Patrick’s Day. I wouldn’t turn down an invitation to a celebration, but otherwise it’s just another late winter day.
I do, however, think it’s the perfect day to eat Lucky Charms for breakfast.
We went to a spanish restaurant because it was my father inlaw’s birthday but I try to avoid anything that has to do with the “norm” on a regular basis…Although lucky charms with a Guinness are a.ok. in my book!
Too funny! As an Irish-Italian-German/American mutt Catholic, I can honestly say that I’ve never consumed green beer. What’s the point? I think college kids just like to find any excuse to drink. Though my family will probably demolish a box of Lucky Charms tomorrow morning. Though, the religion geek in me is very curious about the blessings of wine during the Passover Seder and other Jewish holidays….
I can’t believe I forgot to buy Lucky Charms today! Oh well. The blessings for the wine and bread were the first ones I learned – and then I quickly learned that “Jewish wine” was not very good. I still drink grape juice with the kids at Passover.
I am a history junkie, and I am ashamed to say that I only RECENTLY learned the history behind St. Patrick, haha… (But even knowing the history, it’s still, er.. a get drunk holiday for me.. haha!!) Great post my friend. 😉
Thanks Gingi!
I grew up Catholic and have a little bit of Irish in my heritage, so we grew up eating corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread on St. Patrick’s Day. That and going to the parade was about the extent of our celebrating. Despite the fact that there was a large Jewish population in my hometown, I knew almost nothing about Judaism for the first twenty years of my life- so I’m like the opposite of you! My first seder was when I was 24, and that’s when I realized how enlightening and fun it is to be a part of a foreign-to-me celebration like that.
That’s cool – we had non-Jewish friends to sedar a few years ago, and they loved it! Not all the food, necessarily, but learning about another faith and experience.
Hahaha! As soon as I read the words “one weekday in February” I knew where you were going. I can completely understand your confusion – or the feeling that you were being punked on a very grand scale! I’m not sure if it is still the case, but when I was at Notre Dame our spring break always included St. Patrick’s Day. I think the university administrators just didn’t want to deal with the drunken carnage.
A friend’s son goes to ND – he was hope last week for Spring Break, so maybe they are back for the big day? Oh boy.
I grew up Catholic and til now still don’t know much about St. Patrick! Yikes. I do wear green and that’s about it, though for my eldest, they’ve been having fun talking about clovers and wearing green. Not really a ‘holiday’ for us, more like a Cinco de Mayo or 4th of July type of day.
That’s how it is for us too! It’s hard when a holiday falls in the middle of the week – nothing really special about a Tuesday.
My husband is a Italian-Lebanese Catholic. I converted for him…I guess I shouldn’t say converted since I wasn’t brought up as anything. I would never hear the end of it if I bought Lucky Charms though!
Ha – my husband has a weakness for sugary cereals, so I’m safe on that front!
I was just telling Allie that my extent of St. Patrick’s Day celebrating was about Lucky Charms in the morning. These days, it’s corned beef and cabbage. And you know I’m not even a small percentage Irish.
What’s funny is that every year on Ash Wednesday I forget that it’s Ash Wednesday. And it takes usually the fifth person with ashes on their forehead to clue me in that there aren’t four people out there with dirty on their foreheads!
I don’t have a drop of Irish in me either. And I know what you mean about Ash Wednesday – although I tend to recognize that the “dirt” is really ashes much more quickly than I used to!
I love me some St. Pat’s. I am Catholic, though, and we’re kind of brought up with beer as part of every celebration, so that’s where it fits in, dammit. THAT’S where it fits in! Haha. I’m having family in today for our annual corned beef and cabbage (cooked by my dad). SO excited! I actually just posted about my experiences with St. Pat’s, too…
I’m off to read in a minute. Beer as a part of every celebration works for me, but I just can’t get on the cabbage wagon. Although I do like gefilte fish, which is a Jewish food that most people who weren’t raised on it cannot stomach.
Just imagine how ignorant I was then because even though I went to a Catholic school, I didn’t know about St Patrick’s Day until after I came to the States!
Interesting…I wonder if the hoiday is only emphasized in places where the Irish population is substantial?
I’ve been craving cereal this pregnancy so a bowl of Lucky Charms sounds like the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to me!
I will clink my spoon with you on Tuesday, Katie!
Lucky Charms – always a good choice!! I eat all the crunchy stuff first and save the marshmallows till the end – always without milk because I don’t want them to get soggy!!
Funny that here they have moved all of the St. Patrick’s day celebrations to a Saturday (actually tomorrow) since it is such a drunk fest!!! Chris is serving breakfast at a local place for a charity but otherwise we will avoid the mess:)
Well, now it is Saturday, so happy St. Patrick’s Day celebration to you! That was smart to move the festivities to a weekend night so everyone can sleep in tomorrow. But like you, I’d avoid the mess.
Dana, you are such a gifted writer. Seriously, so gifted. I could read your words ALL. THE. TIME.
The way you described your exposure to Catholics/Protestants and your college experience and the people in it- just brilliantly detailed and with just the right umph. I jthoroughly enjoyed this read.
I could site about 50 different sentences that were almost poetic- in how the words rolled out to create a picture, or a slight undertone, or an intentional point. Damn, you’re good. Really REALLY good.
Wow, Chris – thank you so much! I can’t tell you how much your words mean to me – you make me feel like a million bucks!
Ok, I’ve worshiped at Protestant churches and Catholic churches and the important thing, as Amy said, is getting past the big generalizations and talking to people. I love coming to your blog and learning about Jewish traditions. One of my priests used to say that Catholics are “Christianized Jews”, and that it behooved us to learn about our Jewish brothers and sisters.
It behooves us to learn about everybody, really. I’m currently skimming a book about world religions and there are cool things to glean from all religions.
Now, I’m ashamed I can’t say more about Patrick… off to check the Lives of the Saints. I might be back…
I agree with you, Julia. I love learning about different religions, and I’m glad you are able to learn a little when you visit me!
You know far more about Christians than Christians usually know about Jews! 🙂 I never really got the whole St. Patty’s day thing – I mean, I know it started as a religious holiday and got twisted as many of them do. I’m not much of a partier and I don’t drink beer – not even when it’s green.
Me neither, Lisa. That was an unexpected benefit of a Catholic college – I did learn a lot about Christianity. I had to take a class as part of the core curriculum; I dreaded it but it turned out to be one of the most interesting classes I ever took.
**Protestants or Catholics**
Omgosh, I didn’t know this. I just consider myself a Christian!
Thanks for educating, as always. xx
Just doin’ my wee bit to teach, lassie 🙂 (that was an attempt at Irish speak – how’d I do?)
As an Irish Catholic I can admit to it being a drinking holiday 😉 Tho there is some fancy dancing involved! The real question is how we ever related the male patron Saint of a country to green beer.
Yes, can you explain that to me, Kerri? And what’s the shamrock connection? I’m perplexed.
“Schmutz on their faces” is my new favorite quote.
Ha – and I loved that I was using a Yiddish term to describe a very Catholic concept. Schmutz is one of my favorite words.
Love your story and I never made the connection with the O and the beginning for Irish and at the end for Italians. “For fear of looking like an idiot” I hate admitting that. 😉
Out of all cereals Lucky Charms is Christopher’s favorite cereal. I don’t even know how he discovered it. Probably a snack at school. We have a ginormous box here right now.
Then you are all ready for St. Patrick’s Day! My maiden name ends in an “o” but it’s Spanish, not Italian – although that’s what everyone always thought it was.
Pass the Lucky Charms! Nom nom. And I’ll drink a beer with you. Oh, wait, this year it’s Tuesday and we’ve got swim that night and homework so we’ll probably need to imbibe alone.
I was in college, too, when I found out the difference between Protestants and Catholics. Fascinating stuff! You’ll have to educate me more about being Jewish. My boss is, but only celebrates 2 holidays and her boyfriend celebrates Christmas so i haven’t learned much about Judaism from her.
I can only share my own experiences; I certainly don’t consider myself an expert. If you feel like it, you can check out a piece I wrote on my friend Chris’ site; it’s the most religiously focused piece I’ve written. http://themomcafe.com/devotional-diary-the-chosen-people-judaism/
For a second I was like “Why is Dana doing FTSF on Wednesday?” Woo, my brain is obviously somewhere else!
I actually grew up in a mostly Catholic town where everyone was of Irish and/or Italian descent (or so it seemed). I just assumed that most people in the US were Catholic. I remember in elementary school one of the recess ladies asking me why I wasn’t wearing green on St. Patrick’s day. My response? “I’m Jewish!” I didn’t really “celebrate” St. Patrick’s Day until moving to Boston. I mean, how can you not when people have off from work that day? (It just happens to coincide with Evacuation Day, and holiday I had never heard of previously and I don’t think is celebrated anywhere outside of Boston and a couple of the surrounding towns.)
I think you are right, Bev – it sounds like a holiday created to give a legitimate excuse for getting off work on March 17th. Pretty brilliant if you ask me.
Such interesting stories here! We assume so much because of the way we are brought up. It’s easy not to care about anyone but ourselves. We had this discussion at our school the other day – we assume tall black men are all basketball players, that hockey players are jerks, and designer jeans = happiness. It’s very eye-opening and worth a real look at why we celebrate any holiday or why we pass judgment based on false assumptions. I’m from a large Mormon family and believe me, there are LOTS of assumptions about that. I’ve come to find that you can relate to just about anyone if you take the time to talk to them. Good post, Dana.
Thanks, Amy. There are lots of assumptions, and I look back on mine and realize how inaccurate they were. I credit my college and early work experience with exposing me to so many different people who educated and enlightened me, and I’m a better person for it. And blogging…I did not know anyone who was Mormon until I started blogging. Now I know at least two!
Totally relate and never quote got it . . . though did not go to a Catholic college so missed out on some of the MAJOR celebrations.
You didn’t miss much, Nina. It was just like any other Friday or Saturday night, with the addition of green food coloring in whatever you were drinking.
Agreed!! Plus, I think Italians have some half-hearted beef with St. Patrick because we were told to wear orange on St. Patrick’s day for William of Orange. Whatever. It will be just another day for me too!!…I may bust out my shamrock compression socks that I won at a race last year, but I’ll have to remember where they are first!
I didn’t know that Italians are supposed to wear orange – that’s just silly. I look worse in orange than I do in green.
Ok Fellow Jew totally relate to every word, but I’ve been told that my Shabbat brisket can pass for something Irish, and I also make a mean cabbage salad. Was his name really Dr LoPresto? It wasn’t… was it?!
Oh yes it was! He was Italian – note the “o” at the end of his name.
Another Catholic girl here and I can’t say I ever got into the whole St. Patrick’s Day celebration much, other than it was a saint’s feast day. German and Italian are my dominant heritage claims – the tiniest bit o’ the Irish is buried somewhere generations back. So I never did understand the whole drinking green beer thing, either.
Just the other day, I had quite a fun time explaining to my Daughter why people go all out for the leprechaun stuff and whether her Jewish Dad celebrates St. Patrick’s Day.
Never a dull moment!
I doubt most Christians know any more than Jews do about the origins of the holiday, and given the comments here, I’m proving my point!
I’m an Irish-Italian Catholic…bam…and that qualifies me as being super holy or it means that I know nothing about anything other than American Lucky Charms taste way sugarier than Canadian Lucky Charms and that concerns me.
That is fact.
Also green beer stains the shit out of clothing if you’re not careful,
Signed,
Worst Irish-Italian Catholic St.Paddy’s Day Celebrator
I didn’t know about the stains – see, you do know more than I do! I was looking up the history of Lucky Charms, and found out that they were originally not frosted – that happened in the 80s I think. I knew I like them better as a little kid.
I went to a Catholic girls school for high school and can so relate to your confusion. I was raised with little religion and was so in the dark when it came to Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday etc. and yes the good catholic girls did grow up. Out of a class of 32 two fell pregnant in grade 12. I wasn’t a huge fan of beer then but that changed. I won’t be chugging green beer this 17th but might have a craft beer or two. Enjoy those Lucky Charms! I might just join ya.
I worked in a Catholic girls’ high school, and each year there was at least one girl not allowed to walk at graduation because she was visibly pregnant. It happens everywhere, of course, but the Catholic girls get much more flack.
DAMN YOU GO GO GO Sistah!! You want to know something? As a Jew, it sounds to me that you know more about the behinds of St. Patty’s Day than I do, as an I dunno – I guess Protestant but I can’t stand that word and also not a Catholic. Is there some religious thing for mostly Christian but partly Jewish and mostly just thank you for there being a God? Probably but I haven’t looked into that either… Sigh.
I love love this “Catholics have large families and do not use birth control, and these two facts are usually connected. Catholics are typically Irish or Italian, and the letter “O” figured prominently in most surnames. If you are Irish, it’s at the beginning; if you are Italian, it’s at the end.”
I think that’s about my own assumption as well. THANK YOU for linking this up!!!
I think going to a Catholic college was such a great educational experience for me – I find religion so interesting. My roommates were always so great about explaining things to me, and I was old enough to not find it a threat to my own beliefs.
An interesting learning point for me because we don’t celebrate St Patrick’s. I’m a Catholic and went to a Catholic high school then went to a very liberated uni after. Sheesh. So any holiday could be just a drinking day.
Yep! And in college, you didn’t even need a holiday as an excuse!
You and me both! I grew up in a heavily Catholic area, but in a Jewish household (where I also didn’t learn about Ash Wednesday until long after college!). St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t a thing for our family, and it wasn’t until I lived in New Orleans that I was really exposed to it. The holdiay is fun in the abstract, but I really can’t engage in the serious drinking anymore, so mostly it’s just wearing a green shirt for me, and having fun trying to say “erin go bragh”!
Ah, I forgot that phrase! I don’t even know what it means, although I do enjoy listening to a good-looking man speak with an Irish accent.
I teach at a State college in Cali that I don’t think is unusually high in Catholics, Irish or Italians, but we have changed our Spring Break to be over St. Patrick’s Day each year because the drinking had gotten so bad in our small, college town. 🙁 So, eating Lucky Charms sounds like a much more civil way to celebrate during my Spring Break!
I completely agree, Sue! I never went out for St. Patrick’s Day in college – too crowded, loud and dirty. Also, I didn’t have a fake I.D. 😉
You have to read my post, the end will make you laugh:). And as an Irish Catholic, I can tell you that yes, it is pretty much all about the drinking (although originally, it was a religious holiday). When in Dublin…or Boston…or Chicago…or Savannah…
What Catholic College did you attend? I also attended a Catholic University (Loyola), but only for one year. Too much drinking, I transferred so I could graduate!
Great minds think alike! I seriously think I am going to make that a tradition – Lucky Charms on St. Patty’s Day. Like you said, my kids will think I’m a rock star.
Dana, I totally would eat Lucky Charms with youSt. Patrick’s Day or not and we always have a box in our house by the way! But still, I am Italian and Irish, so I did grow up celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day, which is two days later and coincidentally my mom’s birthday. Also, Kevin is 100% Irish, so we celebrate big time on his side, where his mom even makes homemade Irish soda bread, too.
I bet that’s fun! My mother-in-law is Irish, but I don’t think she does anything on St. Patrick’s Day. Unless it’s a holy day of obligation…she’s much more devout than her sons.