Wednesday, March 17, 2004

What about Andy, Dave, and George?

St. Patrick's Day celebrations abound in the U.S. People wear green, drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage (ignoring the fact that it's not an Irish dish), and play up whatever Irish ancestry (real or imagined) they might have. That St. Patrick's Day is so widely recognized in the U.S. is hardly a surprise, considering the massive numbers of Irish immigrants that came to the U.S. throughout the 19th century.

I can't think of any reason that other British patron saints can't also be recognized here in the States along with good ol' St. Patrick (we'll ignore the question of whether Ireland should be considered British). My proposals follow.

On St. Andrew's Day (November 30th), Americans should wear plaid, eat haggis, and drink scotch.

On St. Davy's Day (March 1st), Americans should wear leeks upon their heads. I don't know anything about Welsh cuisine or drink.

Things get a bit more complicated with St. George's Day (April 23rd). Roast beef and ale, to be sure. But what to wear? Englishness is so wrapped up in Britishness (or, perhaps it's the other way around. See the introduction to Norman Davies The Isles) that it's hard, for me, the uneducated American, to think of distinctive British dress. Any ideas?

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