I’m clearly missing something.
In the pub one night in early March, 2002, there were flyers all over the place encouraging drinkers to go out (well, stay in) and have a pint or several of Guinness on Saturday 16 March. A few days later, on the walk to work, I spotted a poster promoting the same thing - “Drink like the Irish on St Patrick’s Eve“
Have I missed out on some significant date-change? I realise that St Patrick’s Day was on a Sunday in 2002, and therefore didn’t lend itself quite so readily to binge-drinking sessions, but what I’m trying to figure out is whether St Patrick’s Eve is in fact a legitimate drinking occasion - as in, something that is commonly and/or traditionally celebrated in addition to St Patrick’s Day (like New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day?) or whether this is actually a complete construct by the Guinness company, realising that they’re going to sell more stout on a Saturday than a Sunday.
If the latter is the case, then where does it end? Potentially, anyone can create a nonsensical event based promotion -
– “Celebrate Possum Appreciation Week with a pint of Caffrey’s”
– “Buy your best mate a curry this National Curry Day”
– “It’s National Have a Pint of Bitter Week - why not step inside and Have a Pint of Bitter?”
But what is especially interesting is when companies choose to hijack or extend common or traditional holidays to suit their marketing campaigns -
– “Come and drink Stella Artois to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve,”
– “Happy Hour extended for St George’s Eve,”
– “Tell her you love her with a bottle of Babycham on Valentine’s Eve”
So will someone please tell me - is St Patrick’s Eve something that is usually celebrated? Does it exist, or has it been invented? And will the extensive Guinness marketing campaign mean that it becomes or is perceived as a traditional event as we move forward.
Will people in coming years celebrate both St Patrick’s Day and St Patrick’s Eve? And what about 2003, when St Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday - will we need to celebrate St Patrick’s Eve Eve, in order to get in the requisite weekend drinking hours?
I’ve never heard of it before, and I’m flummoxed, frankly - partly because if it does exist, I’m surprised I’ve managed to miss it for nearly thirty years, and partly because if it doesn’t exist, I am impressed by the sheer cojones of the Guinness marketing department.
I do believe that St. Patricks Eve exists, as in all days before holidays, but it isnt celebrated. The “celebration” is the marketing ploy, since Guiness wouldn’t sell as much on a Sunday.
I do believe St. Patrick’s Eve exists, as in the evening before any day, Monday Eve, but none is celebrated. Nobody celebrates Valentine’s Eve, it is the practically the same thing. St. Patrick’s day is to celebrate St. Patrick, it’s really not necessary to start the night before. It is a marketing scheme. Very observant, I hadn’t even noticed the posters said that.
I think an excuse to celebrate is reason enough for the existance of St Patrick’s Eve.
The weekend is very often called St Patricks weekend which encompasses (quite possibly) Thursday, (most likely) Friday, (definately) Saturday and (without a shadow of doubt) Sunday and Monday.
A bank holiday in Ireland is reason enough to celebrate on the Sunday. Outside Ireland, the fact that so many of us have taken the Monday off work and can stay out late guilt-free on the Sunday night, means that it is not only acceptable to go out on the Sunday, but is our duty.
Generally, there is no such thing (In my opinion) as St Patricks Eve - not in the same context of New Years Eve. But St Patricks Day generally turns into Paddy’s weekend - and it’s like any other Bank holiday weekend. Pretty lethal!