Students toast to St. Patrick

University students enjoyed corned beef and cabbage accompanied by tall glasses of Irish beer yesterday, recalling long-held traditions in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

"Everyone is Irish on this day," LSA sophomore Ari Perler said.

Although St. Patrick's Day is traditionally an Irish holiday, students of all ethnic backgrounds took part in the day's celebrations. "I'm not Irish, but I'm enjoying St. Patrick's Day as a true, spirited holiday," LSA junior Pancho Rodriguez said. "I respect the Irish tradition."

St. Patrick's Day memorializes the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited for converting most of the Irish population to Christianity. While some students recognized the holiday by attending church services yesterday, many showed their holiday spi

ALLISON CANTOR/Daily LSA senior Lucia Watson and University alumnus Tracy Ford enjoy St. Patrick's Day festivities yesterday at Ashley's Restaurant and Pub.

rit by partaking in green bagels and beer.

"I mostly hang out with my friends and drink Guiness in the spirit of the Irish," LSA first-year student Dylan Brock said.

For many students, drinking beer is a major part of the day's activities. "The key component is drinking," Engineering junior Francois Harden said.

The holiday was a time for students to enjoy pitchers of green beer as well as the company of their friends. "My friends and I go to the bars during the day and then again at night," LSA junior Scott Wienberg said.

For students who are not of legal drinking age, the absence of alcohol did not stop them from taking a break from their studies to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. "I'm not old enough to go to the bars," LSA junior Rachel Theisen said. "I'm going to a couple of parties."

For some students, day rekindled fond memories of past holiday events with family and friends.

"Sometimes we'd go to the parade in New York," LSA first-year student Todd Brilliant said.

One popular way to commemorate St. Patrick's Day is simply to make everything green. "My mom used to make green eggs for breakfast," LSA first-year student Jenna Fry said.

Traditional stories and myths about leprechauns and shamrocks also were remembered by students as a special part of St. Patrick's Day.

"In pre-school, my teacher told me that if I didn't wear green, that I would be pinched by a leprechaun," LSA junior Gina Vantuno said.

"St. Patrick's Day is a big deal where I'm from," Vantuno added.

03-18-98