by Sean McCallum
Webmaster

There are some people who resist particular holidays because of the religious or cultural origins of those holidays. Some are against the nationalized celebration of holidays attributed to specific religions or cultures in this diverse and secular nation. Some are against the commercial bastardization of their own religious or cultural observances.

I tend to become overwhelmed by what I think of as “real” holiday spirit: Allowing myself to temporarily shrug off my stresses and the gravity of the daily grind, and put effort only into having a good time and appreciating other people. I’m easily bummed out when that sense of well-being is forsaken by the gluttonous consumerism and contentious one-upmanship so common to modern holidays.

In fact, I think that most people are turned off by both sides - the bastardizing and advertizing on one hand, and the evangelizing and proselytizing on the other. In general, folks don’t like a lot of –izing around with the –isms.

Holidays are excuses to do things differently than you did yesterday. To have more fun than you have been lately. To, in the immortal words of Bill Murray’s John Winger, “Lighten up, Francis.”

I think St. Patrick’s Day qualifies, more than any other commonly observed holiday, as a bona fide excuse because it has long been a tradition more than a formal observance.

In these uncertain, pensively hopeful, socially frigid, politically and economically turbulent times, this country needs any excuse it can find to – just for a night – put on a big, stupid, green hat, take a cab to Ballard, belly-up to the bar, raise a glass to its neighbor and sing ridiculously slurred songs while downing pint after pint of murky, brown Irish stout.

Just for one night, forget about the state of affairs and tie one on. Not to drown your sorrows, but to lift your spirits. Or if you prefer, use your lack of inhibitions to say what you really think about the world around you, but be careful not to get your ass kicked. Then, in the morning, you can pick up where you left off - trying to keep everything in some semblance of order. Or better yet, stay in bed a little extra. Sleep it off. This mess will still be here when you get back.