BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test

Subject: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 08:50 AM

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

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: RangerSteve
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 01:47 PM

Being a Stephen myself, I am fully aware of the day. I had it off this year, and I celebrated by not doing a thing resembling work. I draw the line at killing wrens, though. Thanks for the info about the site.

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 02:26 PM

I do not advocate killing wrens! Build them a birdhouse instead.
Chinese and Koreans make great artificial wrens. Try one of the China state outlets aka craft stores and you will find them.

I do advocate enthusiastic celebration which seems to be lacking around these parts. One of the most difficult things about specializing in seasonal customs is having to live in suburbia in america where most Irish americans are simple turds who know nothing, will know nothing and have forgotten everything. There is nothing left but genetics.

Folk custom here-want to know what it is?
-endless shopping for junk (as there is nothing I want from any Mall)
-endless eating of prepared food that tastes like crap
-endless sitting in front of television sports until you fall asleep and beyond.

Had I the money I would travel during the holidays. No food, drink or song in the wasteland and no one turns up to eat or drink or partake of ours. At least with travel you can change the scene of the wasteland.

Simply does in door to door mumming as no one would want to turn up singing for what they would hand out. It would be probably lite beer and plastic cheese at best....

Oh well....

It just leaves more for us!
Conrad

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 09:42 PM

St Stephen got stoned on Boxing Day!

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 10:10 PM

What a brilliant observation!

Someone must have liked his work!

Conrad

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: ard mhacha
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 07:41 AM

Peasant, as a born and bred Armagh man the custom of hunting the wren on St Stephen`s day never took place in any northern county.
So my friend if you had walked into some Pub or Club up here we would have had you certified. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 10:06 AM

Sometimes the Rot starts at the root....pitty!

It is a fine holiday! You can always start now!
Holiday celebration is not tied to genetics and location. It can happen anywhere with any one. Dont be so interested in the past. Go for the future.
Basic rule: Never turn down an opportunity to celebrate!

Conrad

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 03:07 PM

And no fake wrens either. Kill the wee bastards before they take over the world. Wake up, people! Didn't you see The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock? (I know, I know...it was by Daphne du Maurier.)
So let's get dressed up in outlandish clothing, get hammered and go round the houses and pubs on our sacred wren-elimination mission, before it's too late.
Ard-Macha, a chara, I believe there was a very similar tradition in your county with Mummers or Rhymers (the Armagh Rhymers) going out on St. Stephen's day for some and frolics. Not sure if there was a wren involved, though, I hope so. Vicious wee shites!

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 03:39 PM

Fascinating stuff,#1. But did you really kill the wren in the pub? And did no one stop you or call the police? Our president has his "people" out there watching for odd behavior.

I do have trouble understanding how a "purist" like yourself could make use of a fake wren marked "Made In China". Almost the folk equivalent of prepared foods.

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 28 Dec 02 - 08:34 PM

Seamus- you should stop in sometime!
Actually I advocate building wren houses or doing what is better for them -simply let the in the door of the outdoor shed or screened in porch. We have two wren nests on our porch each year. They love living near us and flying in the un repaired screen windows....

Any wren is better than the senseless irish moronic turds that run and frequent the local Irish establishments.

I guess I had better keep teaching them then!

Conrad

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: Emma B
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 12:54 PM

Hi Peasant, You were just in the wrong Baltimore! Try Salters/Bushes on the waterfront at Baltimore, West Cork (just down the road from Skibbereen) Must admit I've never seen any wrens slaughtered there! (although its easy to get slaughtered on Beamish if you're waiting for the ferry) try Kerry !

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 30 Dec 02 - 05:09 AM

Refresh, for Ard Macha's response re the Wrens and the Wrhymers.

Seamus

Just kidding about the wrens, though, it's the sparrows that are the wicked wee bastards.

Subject: RE: BS: Baltimore Pub Fails Stephens Day Test
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 30 Dec 02 - 07:19 AM

Serriously!
The rot also sets in at the root....
Celebration has no reason to be linked to genetics or region!
As for Beamish....
I can never be drowned by it. Impossible...bring it on transfusion and all.

Conrad