United Nations of Beer

Irish for a day

by Stacey Langille
(Beer Delegate, NS, Canada)

Why do we feel the need to be Irish for a day?

Every one wants to be Irish on St. Patrick's Day, me included. Irish for a day is a desire of millions of people who wear green and head to a pub on March 17th. Personally I get excited weeks before and start collecting all things green to wear just for that day. Although I am not Irish, every year I grow fonder of this fantastic tradition.

March 17th was originally a Catholic holy day to honor St. Patrick on the day he passed away. Over the years it has evolved into more of a secular holiday partly, okay, mostly because of the beer.

The Irish actually celebrate for five days and unlike the rest of the world green beer is not on the menu. Technically "Green Beer" is a term applied to a young beer which has not had time to mature. Green beer on St. Patrick's Day may be fun for some, but in reality only food colouring is added and probably the cheapest brand of beer is used.

A good way to boost sales, but what we really should drink or at least try for once on this day is one of Ireland's crown beers like a Guinness or a Harp lager. To be Irish for a day, you must DRINK Irish for a day.

The day is a national holiday in Ireland, Montserrat (a tiny island founded by Irish refugees) and in Newfoundland, one of the Canadian provinces. As a Canadian, I don't really know how Newfoundland managed to get it as an official holiday, but we need to talk to them and figure it out for the rest of the country and, for that matter, the entire world. Official holiday, with day off included or not, St. Patrick's Day is truly celebrated globally.


Millions of people the world over become Irish for a day and enjoy all things Irish like Leprechauns, the wearing of the green (traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched), the Blarney Stone, Shamrocks and good old St. Patrick on March 17th. However it is beer that truly plays a defining role in how we celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Without beer I would probably stay home, watch a parade or two and grab a pizza. But because this day goes so well with beer; corned beef and cabbage are on the menu, green clothes are my wardrobe and a Guinness or three will be in my belly.

St. Patrick's Day is a special day for Stacey Langille. And a few million other people.I am Irish for a day! If you look at the history books, even St. Patrick was not actually of Irish descent, but was born in Britain (shh! Ed.) so get with it and celebrate this great green day.