St. Olaf’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Bad Press
I once taught with a great woman who was Irish to the core. She had asked me when I was going to put up my St. Patrick’s Day decorations and was appalled when I asked her when St. Patrick’s Day was. I knew it was in March but could never remember the date. Everyone agreed that not being Irish didn’t make up for my blatant ignorance. This suggests a much larger question. Why does the whole country celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, as it turns out) but nobody celebrates St. Olaf’s Day (July 29)? I am mostly Norwegian (though on St. Patrick’s Day I am allowed to be Irish through the use of large amounts of green and/or beer). I know a little about St. Patrick, a great deal more about St. Olaf and I can think of no reason for the lack of celebration for one and too much celebration for the other except, maybe, good press. ...