Once again the roving St. Stephen's day schollar finds another prominent Irish Pub totaly ignorant of the culture as it rips money from the pockets of the faithful.

Last year the scholar was in Savannah Georgia. He arrived at about 7:00 PM at the most impressive and seemingly Irish Pub on the waterfront. A beautiful stone structure looking very much like it cared about custom and culture. But the Scholar found out the truth as he ran in with his holly branch and wren on St. Stephens day. Not an employee or any of the good number of tweedy dressed folk at the bar had a clue. Another case of St. Stephen's day lapse of memory as the cash register prevailed. Of course the scholar launched his St. Stephen's day remedial class....songs stories and tales. Hopefully yet another pub was reformed.

This year the Scholar found himself in the most prominent Irish pub in Baltimore. O'She's on Charles Street...
A place known for a good pint and music all be it of the rebel and soppy kind.
Tweedy folk like images of people sat at the bar. The pints were drawn well enough.....The scholar began his inquiry.....Do you know what day this is? Where is the holly branch? Where is the Wren? The staff was gathered....not a clue! Once again money gathering had pushed culture right out the window. Of course the scholar was forced once again to launch his remedial class.....a sad commentary upon the situation of
the Irish Pub in the USA.

If your local doesnt follow custom other than removing money from your pocket leave those one day a year Irish and take your guinness to go-enjoy it in the nearest alley where perhaps any street urchin will know more than those who claime to be the Gael!

To learn about the customs yourself:
Clicket right here for St. Stephens and Wrenning customs

Conrad