May the Hinges of Our Friendship Never Grow Rusty, and Our Ale Never Turn Musty

St. Patrick’s Day being in the middle of the week really has no bearing on how we celebrate the occasion. And St. John’s being the booze capital of the universe (or Canada at least), we celebrate with flair. Green flair. This year, some friends and I decided we’d head downtown mega-early in an effort to actually beat the crowds and find a place to dance a jig.

I also wanted to flaunt my ginger roots for all they’re worth. Like a friend of mine said, the permission to pinch anyone for not wearing green is total retribution for the whole kick-a-ginger thing.

Danced under this banner all night.

Danced under this banner all night.

But everything was filled. Even Nautical Nellie’s. The damned place was overflowing with beautiful men, the most I have ever seen in one spot, but we could not find a table. Dejected, we ate Irish nachos and drank boring beer-coloured beer at The Lower Path.

Then we headed to The Rob Roy, where you’ll mostly find two groups of people: really skanky 20 year olds, and really old, desperate men. Nothing else really fits, except me, somewhere between skanky and desperate.

But the last place we wanted to be on St. Patrick’s Day was a small bar with a one-man act, being jostled by youngsters and mentally undressed by old men. There’s plenty of Irish pubs in downtown St. John’s, and so we headed to Shamrock City.

We waited outside for 40 minutes. It doesn’t matter what event is going on in St. John’s, there are NEVER 40 minute line-ups. Especially not on Wednesdays.

But we actually had a blast. We met two older ladies in the line, and quickly became BFFs. For life. In those 40 minutes, we danced, sang along with the music from inside, and complained about the lack of alcohol in our system. One of the ladies took out her cellphone and showed us pictures of her father who had recently died. She seemed remarkably fine. When we got to the door, we dragged them in with us and promised dances all around.

The place was packed, a fantastic band called Tarahan was playing. Everyone was decked out in green gear. Men hobbled around in over-sized green hats, wooden canes and shamrock paraphernalia. I imagine this is what Heaven is like for the Irish: near-naked women wearing only shamrock tattoos, green beer, happy music and smiling people.

Newfoundland is a lot like Ireland. I don’t know if Ireland knows this or not, but I suspect they do. While I was visiting a tourist shop in Ireland and buying a flute for my brother, a lady asked where I was from. When I told her, she spouted off a bunch of facts about the similarities between both places. I was completely stunned. People in Canada don’t know where Newfoundland is, never mind Ireland.

Our mannerisms are often the same, especially in the way we talk. We’re bound by folklore and tall tales, fiddle music and dance. My own ancestors come from Cork.

This leprechaun kept trying to butt in front of us in line. Sneaky bastard.

This leprechaun kept trying to butt in front of us in line. Sneaky bastard.

I read a CBC article comment yesterday that said something along the lines of “Leave it to North America to celebrate a holiday devoted entirely to drinking.” Sometimes you just have to get swept up in the crowd, a mob of green, face work with a hangover and chalk it up to heritage. I like living a fast life. Plus it helps keep boring people interesting, like the aforementioned commenter.

When I went to Ireland, I expected to feel at home. I didn’t, and I’m positive it was because I was confined to Dublin. The next time I go back, I’m bringing some Newfoundland sass with me.

How did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

  • March 19 2010

    Looks like a great time! Alas, I went to bed at 9:30 on Wednesday, I am a total loser.

    • March 24 2010

      Hahaha, bet you felt better in the morning than I did…

  • March 19 2010

    Looks like an awesome St. Patrick’s day. I worked, so unfortunately no festivities were had by me.

    A lady I work with is from China and she asked me about St. Patrick’s day and why it’s celebrated. I told her it started when St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland (I think that’s it) but really it’s a day to wear green, drink green beer and have a good time. A day once a year to celebrate having fun, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

    And I’ve heard of Newfoundland and Ireland being similar. A couple years ago they’d had this tourism ad running on TV here. It showed all this pretty green landscape and waves crashing on the shore and I thought “wow Ireland looks really pretty.” Funny enough it was for Newfoundland, not Ireland. I’ve never been to either place, so maybe the landscape isn’t similar at all. But whenever that ad is on, I always want to head out east.

    • March 24 2010

      You’re right, everything is very lush and green! Mostly. To be honest, I barely know the story of St. Patrick either. hah.

  • March 19 2010

    This information about the similarities between Newfoundland and Ireland is very interesting. Of course, I never knew this. And Irish nachos?!? Do describe!

    • March 24 2010

      Hmm, perhaps I shall do a separate post about it later…they were actually just potato skins! Never knew they were “Irish.”

  • March 19 2010

    Love the green Candice. I skipped St Patricks day because the irish pub here in town sounds very much like The Rob Roy only on steroids. Here’s hoping I can celebrate next year in Ireland :)

    • March 24 2010

      Aww, there’s just one in town? You’ll make up for it next year!

  • March 19 2010

    Sounds like fun :)

  • March 19 2010

    You never cease to crack me up Candice! What fun – I’ve got hopes that I’m in North America for next year’s St. Pats day – mine was fairly lame :-(

    • March 24 2010

      Hehe don’t worry, many more St. Patrick’s Days to come!

  • March 19 2010
    meg

    haha, awesome. that is pretty much exactly how I pictured st. patty’s in st. john’s! loved the second band. the band we saw on st. patty’s day was just not right, I’m pretty sure they played Twist and Shout at one point, which…no. there was green beer and jager though, so that’s always fun!

    • March 24 2010

      LOL yeah, at The Rob Roy we had some girl singing Jewel…fail.

  • March 20 2010
    maggie

    ahaha, that I had joined you!! Not that I didn’t have a wicked night drinking way more beer than can possibly have been good for me (pretty sure I was actually hungover Friday morning… more than 24 hours later… ;D )… but there was a lack of green in my surroundings at Dave’s and then Christian’s.. :(

    Not gonna lie, though, was kind of hoping for a video of you jigging ;D

    • March 24 2010

      I need to get a video of that sometime! Hahahaha. I’m glad I didn’t hang out with you fellers, I”d be payin’ for it the next day.

  • March 20 2010

    Fabulous, Candice – it looks like a blast! I’ve always loved St. Patrick’s Day, even though I’ve never really understood it either, and I actually have some Irish in my heritage so I have no excuse…..I know it had something to do with snakes and of course a christian saint, but I’m not sure how/when the leprechauns got involved, or green beer….but then I’m not sure how Easter turned into a holiday bout bunnies and chocolate and marshmallow peeps, but I go with that one too. In fact, I pretty much love any holiday that involves beer, or chocolate, or both. :)

    • March 24 2010

      LOL, imagine if we could combine them all…?

  • March 21 2010

    hahahah you look so cute. The only St Pat’s Day celebration I experienced was harvesting shamrocks over Farmville on facebook. I am such the winner. I heard the Durty Nelly’s over here was packed, though. :D Nothing much besides that.

    • March 24 2010

      Hahahahaaha, “harvesting shamrocks. ” I love it.

  • March 21 2010

    It’s my nieces birthday on St. Patrick’s Day – she’s only 10 so I have 9 more long years before I can legally ply her with green beer. And she’s a party girl already.

    • March 24 2010

      Oh she’s going to have an amazing 19th Birthday!

  • March 21 2010

    All the Irish pubs in Brisbane seem to run out of Guinness that night for some reason :(

    • March 24 2010

      Tell Australia to pull its act together!

  • March 23 2010

    I lived vicariously through this post for St. Patty’s. lol. I drank Guinness and ate cabbage but couldn’t muster a throwdown this year. There’s always next year!

    • March 24 2010

      LOL, Guinness and Cabbage…you’re more hardcore than I am, Nancy.

  • March 23 2010

    Great pics. And the lep dude is scary. I was out of town for work. Ug. Happy belated St. Patrick’s Day, girl.

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