Green shamrocks, streamers and tiny leprechaun cutouts adorn the stores around the city as “St. Patrick’s Day Sale!” banners hang high above the alcohol aisles.
St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday once celebrated with a parade and a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage, has now been replaced by a pitcher of tinted green beer served straight from a keg.
Named after St. Patrick of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by both Irish and non-Irish people and is considered one of the busiest holidays for bars and restaurants.
However, since when has alcohol become such an important ingredient in holiday fun?
Think about it.
People all over the world begin the New Year, Jan. 1, and end the year on Dec. 31, the exact same way, by popping bottles open and enjoying a festive night alongside friends and booze.
So why would things be different in between those two dates?
Besides New Year’s Day and St.Patrick’s Day; Valentine’s Day, which has been also labeled “Single Awareness Day (SAD) by those lonely souls, is another major holiday to be celebrated or acknowledge by a vast majority of people.
Whether it is having a shiny glass full of your favorite wine to share with your sweetheart, or taking a shot glass full of tequila at the bar with your friends, because you are once again, single; alcohol seems to be the perfect way to celebrate an eventful evening.
Cinco De Mayo, which has been also given the name, “Cinco De Drinko,” is a holiday that commemorates the victory in the Battle of Puebla.
However, it is now easily celebrated by a diversity of people at one’s favorite cantina.
With half-off price drink specials, how could one resist?
Just when you thought your liver could have a break, another holiday comes around that gives reason to drink.
Halloween, a holiday once celebrated by children dressed up in costumes asking for candy is now a night for the 21 and over crowd to parade around town in costumes inebriated and make fools out of themselves.
However, while many holidays are used as an excuse to drink, with so much alcohol involved in partying it is only expected that drinking on holiday nights can be a danger.
One holiday in particular holds the title for most dangerous.
According to Forbes.com and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the most dangerous holiday out of the year is Thanksgiving.
With about 502 alcohol related deaths, it beat out Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Holidays are meant to be fun; however, why not enjoy them for what they truly stand for.
Learn the history behind them and celebrate them the way they originated, because most of these holidays, don’t involve a 40 oz.
