I like holidays as much as the next person, but some holidays are a bit ridiculous. I’m not talking about federal holidays or religious holidays; I’m talking about the national holidays that are over celebrated. A few holidays are known by everyone, such as Groundhog Day or Valentine’s Day, and others are known by a few in a specific region of a state, such as Casimir Pulaski Day. Over-celebrated holidays are crazy because the real meaning is lost and is made to be something that it wasn’t supposed to be.
Groundhog Day has occured on Feb. 2 since 1840. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to see Phil the Groundhog make his prediction about the weather. If he sees his shadow, winter will be here for six more weeks; if he doesn’t, spring is coming soon. Either way, there are six weeks until spring officially arrives. This national holiday is crazy to me. Why are we predicting weather with an animal that is still in hibernation when we have skilled meteorologists? I don’t think that people really take to heart Phil’s prediction, but it’s still crazy. I think that it could also be aimed towards children and the younger generations now.
Valentine’s Day is Feb. 14, and I am a Valentine’s Day hater. Not because I don’t have a significant other, but because why do we dedicate this one specific day to splurge on loved ones? I think that when you love someone, everyday is Valentine’s day. I also just get tired of hearing about what everyone got their significant other and what they are going to do and seeing the stores explode in reds and pinks after Christmas is over.
Casimir Pulaski Day is mostly a Chicago area holiday, but, my hometown school district, in the St. Louis area, was off for this day. It is celebrated every first Monday in March in honor of Casimir Pulaski, a Polish Revolutionary War hero. The holiday is only Illinois specific, in which certain areas of the state honor it as a holiday that school districts are off for the day. Also, it isn’t on most calendars since it is an Illinois holiday, I feel that this holiday is less legitimate to celebrate. Maybe just teach the kids who he was, but don’t take a whole day off of school.
The last holiday that I find a bit crazy to celebrate is St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a little ironic that this holiday irritates me, because I have Irish origins. The holiday was made to celebrate St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland. The story behind how the holiday came to be is different depending on who you ask. I’ve heard of two different reasons: St. Patrick rid Ireland of snakes and he converted the Irish to Christianity after he escaped slavery; and he became a saint after abolishing pagans. I am not sure which one is the correct one, as britannica.com says both are why St. Patrick’s Day came to be. However, I feel like it isn’t celebrated for those reasons anymore. It seems to be an excuse for kids to go around and pinch each other if they aren’t wearing green, or for Chicago to make their river green, or even for people to go around and drink as much beer as they can.
Overall, I don’t really know as to why these holidays exist, but I do know that regardless of who celebrates, I don’t hate the people who do. I don’t want to totally get rid of these holidays, with the exception of Casimir Pulaski Day, but to change the way they were meant to be celebrated. To me, these days are not all that special and are just another day in the year with no special occasion.