Look Who's Talking: How do you celebrate and remember St. Patrick's Day?

Editor's Note: Look Who's Talking explores the most recent happenings around town and what residents think about it. 

St. Patrick's Day has become a much-celebrated holiday in the United States, featuring lots of drinking and revelry and a few unusual traditions. It's a far cry from the holiday's beginnings in Ireland as a solemn religious occasion in honor of the country's Patron Saint, Patrick, who reportedly died on March 17, 461.

Today, about 10% of Americans claim to be of Irish descent, and cities throughout the country celebrate the day. In Houston County, the town of Erin has one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the country.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade actually dates back to 18th century New York.

The Leaf-Chronicle asked Clarksville residents to share some of their favorite memories from St. Paddy's Day and how they like to celebrate.

“My oldest son was born on St. Patrick's Day,” Janet Holleman said. “While I was in labor, my husband looked at me (thinking this was funny) and said, 'you don't have on green, I think I'll pinch you.' I said, if you pinch me I will knock you out, if and when I get out of this bed.”

Bud Stump posted a picture of a bottle of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, with these words, “ 'Nuff said.”

And Ann Bellamy summed it up well, “Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day.”

For many, it's about traditions that have been passed down, like Maureen Hiemstra, who said, “On St. Pat’s Day we gather as a family and eat our traditional meal of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, and Irish soda bread. My family has done this as long as I can remember.”

Beth Kasper shared her family heritage. Her mother's, mother's father was part Irish, she said.

“I remember my grandmother baking little shamrock-shaped cakes for the occasion, with molds that probably came from the Maid of Scandinavia catalog (I chuckle)," Kasper said. "My mother often fixed boiled corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. She would sprinkle cinnamon on the lid of the pot to counteract the smell. I read that the Irish didn't really eat corned beef. The foods I remember eating most in Ireland were fish and chips.”

More:Answers to your St. Patrick's Day questions: Who he was, why we wear green and more

Related:9 easy St. Patrick's Day outfit ideas that will leave everyone green with envy

St. Patrick's became a more spiritual day for Kasper after she learned about Patrick's life and times, she said.

For Jeff Baggett, the day is simply about wearing green and trying not to get pinched.

"On second thought, at my age, I'll take a little pinchin'," he said.

Launa Bailey Sholar noted her Irish maiden name and shared a memory about her mother.

"(She wore) a very old 4-leaf clover pendant for many years, until she passed away. Now, I have it, and wear it in her honor,” Sholar said.

For some Clarksvillians, the holiday is all about what they'll be eating, or more to the point, drinking.

Bars and restaurants all over town will be handing out shamrocks and Irish hats, called cabbies, paddies, a scally, duffer or crook cap. They'll be serving corned beef and cabbage and offering green beer. But, many of the locals say they'll celebrate at home.

"My ethnic background is all of Great Britain; England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales,” Lil Smith said. “One of the top things on my bucket list is to one day tour those countries. Each St. Pat's Day, I try to make Irish stew and soda bread. We'll probably have Reuben sandwiches and potato pancakes for lunch. My son/sous chef Peyton loves scones, so that's a must. And, my hubby loves pie, so a rustic apple tart with vanilla custard for him.”

Deanna McLaughlin has some great pictures of St. Patty's Days past.

“My husband is Irish, and I found out recently that I also have Irish heritage,” McLaughlin said. “We invite our friends over every year for a St. Patrick’s party, where we serve traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage and Irish Sundaes (Baked Potatoes with various toppings). Everyone wears some sort of St. Patrick’s or Irish-themed costume, and we enjoy Irish foods and beverages.”

Amanda Blount just learned about her Irish ancestry thanks to DNA testing. 

“I grew up wearing green on St Patrick's day, eating stew and potatoes for dinner, and learning how the three-leaf clover helps tell the Biblical story," she said. "I even know how to River Dance pretty well, though I get very few chances in our area. It's been a while, and I'm out of practice, but I hope to find others to dance with.

Growing up military, Blount said she remembers going all out for St. Patrick's day with decorations, green pancakes, green outfits for school and an Irish dinner.

“We would attend as many St. Patrick's parades as we could, and really enjoy the day. The military also went all-out, decorating the mess hall and serving Irish foods," she said. “For me, St. Patrick's day also serves as a physical marker that spring is very close. I'm always very excited for this time of year.”

Danielle Stack grew up in Clarksville and recalled St. Patrick's Day as a "FUN" holiday, one that's easy to participate in.

“As a young girl, I can remember going to the Houston County Parade. They celebrate BIG in Erin. I loved it so much, I continued this tradition with my own children," she said. “As a college student, downtown employee and young adult, the Pub Crawl was so fun! (It was) that one night you could walk from bar to bar and drink green beer!! During a Pub Crawl back in 2010, I was a waitress at The Front Page Deli. I got to work and celebrate with so many amazing regulars. Of course, my favorite sandwich there was their Reuben.”

The Front Page Deli has since closed, and downtown Clarksville's Blackhorse Pub & Brewery is still a few weeks from opening, but the date has a special significance for the restaurant's owner, Jeff Robinson.

“Saint Patrick’s Day is the Pub's birthday,” he explained. "We opened March 17, 1992. It was supposed to be a quiet opening, but The Leaf-Chronicle published an article about us that morning, and we got our doors blown off. It was crazy. We were running out of everything, too, including beer. Terry Griffin from Budweiser of Clarksville had to run out to their warehouse and get more beer for us.

“We were selling bottles straight out of the cases. They didn’t even make it into the cooler. We have had a lot of really memorable St. Patrick's Day celebrations since then, but that one would be hard to beat.

“It was our goal to get open again by this St. Patrick's Day. But, we won’t make it. I think we will get open a couple of weeks later. But, our Pub Family will probably try to get together for a toast.”