Stout call for St Pat's holiday in US (Guinness co. pushes for official holiday status )

The BBC ^ | February 15, 2008 | Johnny Caldwell

[Stoat]

Stout call for St Pat's holiday in US

 

By Johnny Caldwell
BBC News

 

Guinness is very popular on St Patrick's Day

Guinness has launched a campaign to have St Patrick's Day officially recognised as a holiday in the US.

The campaign is centred around a petition, which it hopes one million people will sign or endorse by midnight on Sunday 16 March.

It will then be presented to Congress the following day, which of course any Irish man, woman, child or indeed self-respecting plastic paddy will of course know is St Patrick's Day.

The petition can be signed in bars and off-licences - excuse my American 'liquor stores' - across the US as well as online.

However, despite millions of Americans claiming to have at least a little bit of Irish in them, the chances of St Patrick's Day being a national holiday in the US are thought to be low.

It would, cultural analysts say, open the flood gates for people of every nationality - actual and adopted - to call for their particular holidays 'back home' to be recognised with a holiday.

Stout suppers

Meanwhile, it has emerged that rumours of a demise in the popularity of the black stuff as former stout suppers opt for wine and lighter beers appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

Figures from the first six months of 2007 show that Guinness sales increased by 3% in pubs in Ireland. It also increased its share in the off-licence sector.

The petition can be endorsed online

But rumours still prevail about whether Guinness may actually move from its world-famous home, St James Gate in Dublin, and relocate elsewhere in the city or indeed further afield.

A company spokesman has been quoted as saying "we're still a few months away from a final decision".

Subsequently, it appears the issue, like a pint of Guinness, may take a while to settle...

For further information about Guinness' campaign to have St Patrick's Day officially recognised as a hoilday in the US, go to www.Proposition317.com

[Stoat]

Related links that may be of interest:

Proposition 3-17

GUINNESS®

BBC - Saint Patrick's Day

BBC - Religion & Ethics - Saint Patrick Introduction

BBC - Food - News and events - St Patrick's Day menu

St Patrick Through me many peoples were born again in God

[Stoat]

[bajabaja]

This proposal faces the “minor” problem of the state supporting/recognizing a religious holiday. This is likely distinct from Christmas and New Years, which also have secular roots.

Further, technically, Padraig was not officially canonized — not by a pope in the usually understood meaning. So these beer guys are seeking an official holiday (holy day) for an unofficial saint.

Brilliant!

[Stoat]

Brilliant!

And, they've hit upon a marvelous marketing ploy....give beer aficionados a perpetual cause to rally around   :-)

(they can try again every year, and in so doing remind everyone which beer they need to buy  :-)

 

 

[Jet Jaguar]

Just call it Irish-American Day.

[bajabaja]

That’s the real rub. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not the biggest national holiday. Their equivalent to Fourth of July is in September, the 14th I believe. CdM celebrates a victory over the French where the Mexicans used cow carcasses as cover in gun battles. The Mexicans think CdM is big in the US because the beer companies don’t have a holiday around that time, so they boosted CdM.

Lots of conspiracy theories in Mexico.

If you’re down this way, I’ll buy you some Modelo Negro (Mohdelo Nehygrow) (that’s Black Model, a better beer than the Tecate).

Just a little spanish lingo thrown in there. Hope you enjoy.

[Stoat]

That's all very interesting, thank you!  And thank you also for your very kind offer  :-)

Re Cinco de Mayo, that explanation seems quite valid particularly considering that the victory was quickly reversed. 

When else can the Mexican breweries focus all of their marketing attentions on the USA without any competition from American or other companies?  Sometimes, conspiracy theories have a kernel of truth behind them, particularly when large sums of money are involved :-)

[Caipirabob]

From my homepage:"I'm not Irish, but the people who carry me home are!"

Cheers!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

I don’t need St. Patrick’s Day to be a holiday.

I need the holiday on the day after St. Patrick’s Day.

[Stoat]

From my homepage:"I'm not Irish, but the people who carry me home are!"

Cheers!

LMAO!

And cheers to you as well   :-)

 

 

From my homepage:"I'm not Irish, but the people who carry me home are!"

Cheers!

[Stoat]

I don’t need St. Patrick’s Day to be a holiday.

I need the holiday on the day after St. Patrick’s Day.

Agreed.  Perhaps the plan is to get people started with their drinking earlier in the day?

I smell a conspiracy!  :-)

 

 

I don’t need St. Patrick’s Day to be a holiday.

I need the holiday on the day after St. Patrick’s Day.

[woofer]

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not the biggest national holiday.

Someone tell Tyson Meat then. They close their slaughter houses in Iowa on 5 May and work 4 July.

But St. Patty's Day? I would rather take off 18 March to recuperate from celebrating my Irish heritage.

In spite of the fact that I am soooo German I have this irresitaable urge to suddenly get up and march through France.

[RU88]

Those were my exact comments when signing the petition!

[dennisw]

Guinness is the world’s best beer. But its true beauty can only be appreciated in unpasteurized draft. It’s hard to get these days so I don’t drink it and haven’t for years

[Stoat]

Guinness is the world’s best beer. But its true beauty can only be appreciated in unpasteurized draft.

As well as when it's served by a vivacious Irish lass  :-)

It’s hard to get these days so I don’t drink it and haven’t for years

Sounds like it's past time for a holiday in Ireland.  I would LOVE to visit again....some of the kindest, friendliest and most gracious people I've met in my life.

[the scotsman]

Of course, St Patrick wasnt remotely Irish...

[ByteMercenary]

Is ‘Tres Eqquis’ still around? I never saw it marketed here in the USA and was told that the packaging was not up to US standards for our markets (not pasteurized..??). Not too sure about that, but I remember that it was a really tasty brew. Lime really brought out it’s character.

[Dr. Sivana]

This year, since March 17 falls on Monday during Holy Week, the Feast Day is being moved to Saturday, March 15. (St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, and the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25 [during Easter week] are also being moved.)

[opbuzz]

I somewhat agree.

That is why St Pat’s day is the day AFTER St Urho’s Day ( http://www.sainturho.com/ ) March 16!

[sionnsar]

Hey, if they succeed then we can add St. Urho’s Day and have two holidays back-to-back.