I must admit I almost joined Mbo in sitting this one out. I need to jump across too many traditions to understand what this really means to people - as Flanders and Swann said:

"The Scotsman is mean, as we're all well aware
And bony, and blotchy, and covered with hair
He eats salty porridge, he works all the day
And he hasn't got Bishops to show him the way"

Still, to our song, which takes a totally different slant from the previous offerings - Bradypus showing his more serious side this time.

St Patrick's Judgement

St Patrick sits in judgement
Upon St Patrick's Day
Three Paddies from America
Would hear what he would say

Now here's a problem for you:
Saint Patrick's day's in Lent
What should we eat to keep the feast?
To find out we've been sent

For years to mark this day we feast
On cabbage and corned beef
In Lent we're told that beef is banned –
Now what is your belief ?

What? corned beef banned? You ask me
To say you may eat free
Now let us think this over
To see what true would be.

Well, in my day we kept the fast
No meat for forty days
A time for meditation
Reflection, prayer and praise

And yet our brother Paul has said
To eat we all are free
Not bound by law, or holy days
With that I quite agree

Corned beef and cabbage be to they
Who feast with heart that's true
I hold it not against them
If that they choose to do

But mock not those who keep the fast
They also point the way
For Lent is more important
Than is St Patrick's day.