BU Professors Examine Two Popular Holidays
St. Patrick’s Day has become a huge day for celebrating here in the United States. But why?
In an interview with WalletHub, Associate Chair and Social Sciences Senior Lecturer John Mackey takes a closer look at this question and provides some historical context as to how St.Patricks Day came to be such a huge celebration.
For starters, Mackey talks about how St. Patrick’s Day is “a story of immigration, social exclusion, and identity.” Irish-American identity developed in opposition to an Anglo-Protestant American establishment, and has grown ever since. Now we are accustomed to huge celebrations of Irish pride, but it was not always like that, especially given the anti-Irish intolerance of the nineteenth century.
Last year Wallethub interviewed Master Lecturer of Rhetoric Regina Hansen for a similar story on Halloween. Halloween is a day for the two “c’s:” costumes, and candy. Hansen takes a closer look at the do’s and don’ts for how to stay safe and make the most out of your holiday.