A fresh layer of snow doesn't stop the St. Patrick's Day celebration around here. It also helps that the sun is shining and it is supposed to get close to 50 degrees today! The Irish flags are flying throughout Lovell and everyone is wearing a bit of green.
The origins of the day are religious and until the mid-1990's, Ireland did not permit the pubs to be open for the holiday. In the United States, however, the day always was celebrated with parades, dinners and, it seems, lots of drinking. Maybe that is why everyone likes to be Irish for a day!
There are a number of St. Patrick Day celebrations throughout Maine with the biggest being in Bath and Portland. Of course, most of them are held on the weekend before the big day. Chicago may change the color of its river to green but the biggest annual celebration is held down Fifth Avenue in New York City. Over 150,000 march in this five-hour parade!
Many restaurants around Lovell have a special Irish dinner on their menu tonight. Two of note: Ebenezer's Pub and the Red Parka Steak House. So, even if you are Italian or French, it doesn't hurt to pretend to be Irish and enjoy a green beer (if that is possible!)