For years, before political correctness, if you failed to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day your bottom was fair game to be paddled or pinched by those who did.
Ok, since I had never heard about this pinching thing on St. Patrick’s Day, I had to look it up, and I think many are missing the real point to this “tradition”. According to folklore, you get pinched on St. Patrick’s day for not wearing green because green makes you invisible to leprechauns, and leprechauns like to pinch people (because they can!) So your friends will pinch you to remind you to wear green. One pinch will save you from many.
My ancestry is about 95% Irish, and I am 70 years old, but have never heard of this pinching thing until now. As far as “the wearing of the Green” — My mother always told me it was the people who aren’t Irish and wish they were, who need to wear green, but since my face was (in her words) already wearing a map of Ireland, I didn’t need to. Yes, she SAID that, but somehow, on March 17th, we were always clad in green, always had my Mom’s corned beef and cabbage for dinner, and there was almost always a flower arrangement, that included some Bells- of-Ireland, from my mother’s sisters and brother. Also, for a few years during the late 1950s, Mom baked enough green-tinted, Shamrock-shaped sugar cookies for my classroom and my sister’s, and Dad would painstakingly print each child’s name on his/her cookie, using food coloring & a toothpick.
I went every year to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC with my Tante Lisa till she passed away when I was 18. Even when we moved to L.I. I’d go in with my dad and he’d drop me off at my Tante Lisa (oops sorry Tante is aunt in German). I miss her and think of her even more on this special day….
I’m amazed at how many people are unaware of this tradition – I remember being no more than 4 or 5 and knowing to wear green or get pinched on St. Paddys day! And no one ever told me the tradtion changed! (Though I’m not for tush-pinching. We always just pinched the arm – in grammar school, pinching someone in the rear was detention-worthy behaviour!)
Our reenactment unit participates in a St Pat parade that the township that owns our HQ has on the 2nd Sunday in March -March 8 this year. When husband was commander of the unit we went every year (and brought the cartridges for the fellows to fire during the parade). Now he is no longer commander and we don’t always go – we did not go this year. Glad we didn’t.
According the local paper one of local groupings of corona virus seems to come from the parade – it was before anything was done, even here in NY. No one in our unit has said they have it – but apparently it went around the huge crowds of the public that lined the route.
thomas_matkey almost 5 years ago
Wonder where this is heading.
electricshadow Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Oh, for that you get pinched at double strength.
mjb515 almost 5 years ago
He just finds you pinchable.
boydjb47 almost 5 years ago
Blinded by her “Booty.”
bjballard1 almost 5 years ago
Although, if you are staying home because of COVID-19, who’s to know if you don’t wear green?
Michael G. almost 5 years ago
I also like to have a nip on March 17th!
nosirrom almost 5 years ago
These two are really spicy. A pinch goes a long way.
Russell Bedford almost 5 years ago
For years, before political correctness, if you failed to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day your bottom was fair game to be paddled or pinched by those who did.
ChessPirate almost 5 years ago
Now he’s gonna get it… if he’s lucky! ☺
jscarff57 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
The luck of the Irish was with me this morning, and I wasn’t even wearing green at the time!
drodr05 almost 5 years ago
Turn-about is fair play…
bobpeters61 almost 5 years ago
I like the look of glee as she’s getting her pincers ready.
flying spaghetti monster almost 5 years ago
she’s going for the purple nurple.
flushed almost 5 years ago
The warm intimacy between the married is splendid. Pinch, pat, hug or squeeze all increase the bond.
Tyge almost 5 years ago
It’s her best side! ;o)
Cincoflex almost 5 years ago
Janis is warming up the DOUBLE pinch I see . . .
Homerville Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Retaliation can be painful.!
cuzinron47 almost 5 years ago
I’m staying home today because I’m not wearing green. That’s my story.
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Ok, since I had never heard about this pinching thing on St. Patrick’s Day, I had to look it up, and I think many are missing the real point to this “tradition”. According to folklore, you get pinched on St. Patrick’s day for not wearing green because green makes you invisible to leprechauns, and leprechauns like to pinch people (because they can!) So your friends will pinch you to remind you to wear green. One pinch will save you from many.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 5 years ago
“C’mere hot stuff.”
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 5 years ago
Bend over, she wants to pinch both cheeks. No need to pucker up…
maureenmck Premium Member almost 5 years ago
My ancestry is about 95% Irish, and I am 70 years old, but have never heard of this pinching thing until now. As far as “the wearing of the Green” — My mother always told me it was the people who aren’t Irish and wish they were, who need to wear green, but since my face was (in her words) already wearing a map of Ireland, I didn’t need to. Yes, she SAID that, but somehow, on March 17th, we were always clad in green, always had my Mom’s corned beef and cabbage for dinner, and there was almost always a flower arrangement, that included some Bells- of-Ireland, from my mother’s sisters and brother. Also, for a few years during the late 1950s, Mom baked enough green-tinted, Shamrock-shaped sugar cookies for my classroom and my sister’s, and Dad would painstakingly print each child’s name on his/her cookie, using food coloring & a toothpick.
bevgreyjones almost 5 years ago
I never heard of this.
whenlifewassimpler almost 5 years ago
I went every year to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in NYC with my Tante Lisa till she passed away when I was 18. Even when we moved to L.I. I’d go in with my dad and he’d drop me off at my Tante Lisa (oops sorry Tante is aunt in German). I miss her and think of her even more on this special day….
cabalonrye almost 5 years ago
Better run fast, Arlo, the excuse didn’t work. :)
noaishte Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I’m amazed at how many people are unaware of this tradition – I remember being no more than 4 or 5 and knowing to wear green or get pinched on St. Paddys day! And no one ever told me the tradtion changed! (Though I’m not for tush-pinching. We always just pinched the arm – in grammar school, pinching someone in the rear was detention-worthy behaviour!)
jonesbeltone almost 5 years ago
Target acquired, Captain. Photon torpedoes armed and ready.
washatkc almost 5 years ago
Can’t resist my wife’s sweet caboose either.
mafastore almost 5 years ago
Our reenactment unit participates in a St Pat parade that the township that owns our HQ has on the 2nd Sunday in March -March 8 this year. When husband was commander of the unit we went every year (and brought the cartridges for the fellows to fire during the parade). Now he is no longer commander and we don’t always go – we did not go this year. Glad we didn’t.
According the local paper one of local groupings of corona virus seems to come from the parade – it was before anything was done, even here in NY. No one in our unit has said they have it – but apparently it went around the huge crowds of the public that lined the route.