PAGE 34 • March 2022 •
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TABLE HOPPING
Brew Time by Kristin Merritt
Sláinte! The month of March is upon us and with it comes one of our most popular non-federal holidays – St. Patrick’s Day! The modern version of the holiday differs a fair bit from where its origins begin, but alcohol consumption actually was a part of the holiday from the very get-go. Celebrated on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick, is considered both a cultural and Christian religious celebration that commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in year 461. The day also celebrates the heritage and culture of Ireland and the Irish. Celebrations typically include parades, festivals, church services, noshing on traditional Irish food and drink and the widespread wearing of green clothing and sporting shamrocks. Historically, March 17th falls during the Christian period of Lent. The Lenten season is a six-week period (40 fasting days and 6 Sundays) that follows the liturgical calendar leading up to Easter and is a time
for solemn observance and preparation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Easter Sunday. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, March 2nd and ends on Easter Sunday, April 17th. More traditional and orthodox Christians restrict their diets and abstain from meat, fish, eggs and fats during the entire Lenten period while others choose to give up something in their lives for the period; usually this consists of a luxury type item such as chocolate or alcohol, while others choose to better their lives by restricting their television watching or vowing to cook all their meals at home, or they lean-into their faith more during this period by attending church every Sunday or reading their Bible on a daily basis. Still others might give back during this period and choose to perform small acts of kindness on a daily basis or volunteer in their communities during Lent. Many Christians observe not eating meat on all Fridays during Lent at the very least, with
“Celebrations typically include parades, festivals, church services, noshing on traditional Irish food and drink and the widespread wearing of green clothing and sporting shamrocks.”
Randall Hunter
was our Lucky WINNER for the
Night on the Town Contest! He chose LUIGI’S for dinner! WITH CENTRAL NEW YORK
Photo does not represent actual winners.
fish being a very popular substitute. Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day was a day where Lenten restrictions were temporarily lifted and people were allowed to eat normally and drink alcohol. This is likely how drinking became associated with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. One such drinking tradition is known as “drowning (or wetting) the shamrock.” At the end of celebrations for the day, a shamrock was put in the bottom of a pint glass or mug which was then filled with Irish whiskey, beer, or cider. Those present and participating would then make a toast to St. Patrick and tip their alcohol of choice back. The shamrock would either be swallowed with the drink or fished out upon finishing, and then tossed over the shoulder for good luck. Here in Syracuse, we have a heavy Irish influence stemming from Irish immigrants that settled in the area between 1776 and 1910, with the largest wave coming in the 1840s due to the Potato Famine that occurred in Ireland. Syracuse was a prime area for immigrants looking to find work because of the growing salt industry and completion of the Erie Canal. The Irish immigrants eventually settled into the part of Syracuse that we know as Tipperary Hill. Today we still associate Tipp Hill with being the Irish part of Syracuse. We see the influence of the Irish in Nibsy’s Pub that was established in 1890, Coleman’s Irish Pub, The
