You’ve got to ask yourself, “do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?
This is what I feel like saying every St. Patrick’s Day when people toss about bad wording among drunken Irishmen (and drunken pretend Irishmen too).
Before someone irate corrects you on this one, let me be clear: if you’re going to abbreviate St. Patrick’s Day,
the correct form is St. Paddy’s Day.
Sure, I hear what you’re saying that you know a Patricia who goes by “Patty” or a Patrick that goes by “Pat.” That shortened version of “St. Patrick’s Day” with a double “t” might make more sense at first glance. But common sense isn’t what’s being discussed here. There’s a language barrier you aren’t considering.
Yes, I said language barrier.
Remember that the Irish do indeed speak English, but Gaelic was the original language of the island, a language still found tucked away in modern-day communities. And in Gaelic, “Paddy” is the abbreviation of “Pádraig” or “Patrick” as we would say in English.
From the Dublin airport to your local bar, you will find many more than willing to correct you on this holiday faux pas. And depending on the person, the luck of the Irish may or may not be on your side.
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