Why do you get pinched if you don't wear green on St. Patties day?

[MonarC]

Just curious so I looked this up. I found a few answers but wanted to see if anyone here knew anything else.


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Wiki says:

The Pinching behing St. Patrick

You get pinched because you're a nonconformist.

Pinching gives you a bruise so you can have some green on you.
The act of pinching on St. Patrick's day began in America with Irish settlers who tried to get their kids to behave by telling them that fairies would come pinch them.

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[catlover79]

I've never heard of this custom - sounds like a Balki/Mypos thing on Perfect Strangers. :lol:

[MonarC]

http://api.ning.com/files/c6TdS8cPC7XGe4FaylTA0FRZWECEcACzOeItwjAwqkqHVfPJ4e3Jf6ow-1r4gxuUC79vuPUxVoUsxbLg8fKn3W6dJ5wcn5aX/balki.jpg
:brent

[catlover79]

"Well, paint me green and call me Gumby!" :rofl:

[Marvo301]

I don't know either but I always wear green on St. Patrick's Day just to be on the safe side!

[robyrob]

they are actually just trying to steal your wallet.

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

I never heard of such a thing. I really don't wear green too often on St. Paddy's Day. Not because I don't celebrate it but because I don't really have anything green to wear. At least the right color green.

This year I have to work on March 17th, so I'll be wearing my regular work uniform- which is not green!

[Waterston_Fan]

But then people don't seem to pinch other people anymore, I've noticed.

I don't think I have green but I sure as hell ain't going to the store to just buy it for that day.

[robyrob]

if you dont have any green clothing to wear, just staple some $10 bills to yer shirt.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

if you dont have any green clothing to wear, just staple some $10 bills to yer shirt.
:lol: Then they wouldn't pinch you, they'd maul you.

Psh, I'm not Irish and I don't understand the point of St. Patrick's day. Also, I don't really have a whole lot of green shirts...sooo, if someone pinches me, I'm kicking their ass. :)

[catlover79]

I do have a green shirt, so even though I'm not Irish, I'll probably wear it on Tuesday. :lol:

[MikeL]

il just watch the incredible hulk on st patrick day since he all green lol

[catlover79]

il just watch the incredible hulk on st patrick day since he all green lol
There you go. Good plan. :rofl:

[Marvo301]

il just watch the incredible hulk on st patrick day since he all green lol
Or you could watch The Green Hornet!

[catlover79]

Or you could watch The Green Hornet!
Or the Great Gazoo. :eek: :lol:

[Janice]

I've never heard of the custom, but I think it's something that shouldn't be done in the workplace. Sexual Harassment via Pinching.

[catlover79]

:lol: Then they wouldn't pinch you, they'd maul you.

Psh, I'm not Irish and I don't understand the point of St. Patrick's day. Also, I don't really have a whole lot of green shirts...sooo, if someone pinches me, I'm kicking their ass. :)
I'd like to see that, actually. :lol:

[Zoneboy]

Or the Great Gazoo. :eek: :lol:

Or Mister Green Jeans.

http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/captain.jpg

[catlover79]

Or Mister Green Jeans.

http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/captain.jpg
I LOVED Mr. Green Jeans. He RULED!! :cool: :D

[Yooch]

I honestly think it's either a generational, or regional phenomenon. I'd never heard of the 'pinching' thing til I moved to California. Seems kind of weird to me. Back in New York City and New Jersey growing up, if you didn't wear green, no one seemed to care; they just assumed you weren't Irish or maybe the day didn't have any significance for you. But the pinching thing, I don't know where that originated. :confused:

[catlover79]

As long as no one pinches me, I'm fine. :lol:

[Zoneboy]

http://www.free4-all.co.uk/assets/images/PinchBum.gif

[Stuck In The '70's]

Back when I was in school, getting pinched on St. Patricks Day was a big thing. I always made sure I wore green.

[catlover79]

http://www.free4-all.co.uk/assets/images/PinchBum.gif
Cute icon, Charles. :lol:

[MonarC]

Back when I was in school, getting pinched on St. Patricks Day was a big thing. I always made sure I wore green.

Yeah, it was a big thing where I went to school too. I never understood where the whole pinching thing came from.

[Penny Lane]

Although I am not Irish I always wear green on St Patty's Day. Green is my favorite color and I have the cutest pair of shamrock earrings to wear!:)

[MonarC]

Im part irish. I wish I could visit Ireland one day. It's so beautiful there. Im trying to learn more about their culture & history.

[Max Whittaker]

I got pinched last year. Jerk didn't see I had a green pin on my hat.

[MonarC]

Ha ha. Ouch!

Yeah, this one chick I use to go to school with would never wear green on St. Patties day and she would always get pinched and she would try to use the excuse 'hey, my eyes are green' I guess that doesn't count. It's like you have to wear a big old green shirt or green pants. :lol:

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg77/JoyceBohemia/LafayetteGreenDress.gif

[Chocoholic]

I've heard of it. I always thought it was kids being fresh.

[MonarC]

Anyone get pinched today? :D

[Ohio8]

Or Mister Green Jeans.

http://www.toontracker.com/kangaroo/captain.jpg

Is that Alan Hale, Jr. there with Captain Kangaroo???

[catlover79]

Anyone get pinched today? :D
Nope - I wore green. :lol:

[Marvo301]

Anyone get pinched today? :D
I wore green so I was spared that indignity.

[Janice]

For Brian. Here's his Saint Patty, wearing green. :cool:

[catlover79]

^ I think you've just made Brian's day, Janice. :D

[Brian Damage]

For Brian. Here's his Saint Patty, wearing green. :cool:


That certainly made my day. Thank you Janice. I miss you buddy. Happy St. Patick's Day!

[Cactus Jack]

Im sure Brian would like to pinch her a different way though ;)

[MonarC]

I wore green too so I was pinch free. :D

[JamesG]

I don't know, I'm half-Irish and I don't understand it. All I know is that if I get pinched they get punched.:D

By the way, it is not St. Pattie's Day or St. Patty's day as some others have been saying; it is St. Paddy's Day. Pattie/Patty is short for Patricia.

[catlover79]

I don't know, I'm half-Irish and I don't understand it. All I know is that if I get pinched they get punched.:D

By the way, it is not St. Pattie's Day or St. Patty's day as some others have been saying; it is St. Paddy's Day. Pattie/Patty is short for Patricia.
I'd like to see that, actually. :lol:

[Superstar]

By the way, it is not St. Pattie's Day or St. Patty's day as some others have been saying; it is St. Paddy's Day. Pattie/Patty is short for Patricia.

I have to say, seeing it spelt Patty always bugs me.

[JamesG]

Ok, here is the history lesson on where the whole "pinching" thing came from. I got interested in it and since I have Irish blood in me I felt that I should know where this comes from:


After the English invaded Ireland wearing green could get you killed. The Irish Catholics and the Irish Protestants fought under a green banner against the "Orangemen" who invaded their land. Green then became the symbol of proud Irish rebellion and the shamrock then represented a proud statement of Irish nationalism against the English.

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a celebration of the survival of people that faced genocide, oppression, and who overcame religious persecution and economic oppression. It is regarded as a much more "serious" day then it is treated over here in the States.

The Irish immigrated to the United States when the potato famine occured and they got tired of living the harsh way. When they came here they were thought of as being violent and no-good drunkards; thus the "Irish need not apply" signs that many businesses displayed openly not wanting to hire them.

When St. Patrick's Day made its way to America in the Irish-American communities many still did not openly wear green for fear of oppression. It started when people began to pinch those who did not wear green for displaying a lack of pride in their heritage; layman's terms they were "being naughty and shameful".




As a result of this happening in their home, the many Irish school children then continued the "pinching tradition" against their classmates who did not wear green on St. Patrick's Day. They regarded it as playful, mischief behavior and the pinching tradition caught on.

Somehow, the Irish leprechauns made their way into this over time. One must understand that "real leprechauns" are not the happy Lucky Charms guy but they are regarded as bad tempered and capable of many wrongdoings and mischief. If one did not wear green the evil leprechauns would come and pinch you for it. This is more of an Irish-American thing and does not relate directly to Ireland.


In Ireland it is about more of celebrating your Irish heritage and being with family. Not about wearing green or getting drunk or anything like this at all.


*As a side note this battle still goes on in Ireland and Northern Ireland against the British. There were recent terrorist attacks commited by a Irish republican organization who killed a British police officer and two British soldiers.

The bad blood still goes on to this day.

[MonarC]

I don't know, I'm half-Irish and I don't understand it. All I know is that if I get pinched they get punched.:D

By the way, it is not St. Pattie's Day or St. Patty's day as some others have been saying; it is St. Paddy's Day. Pattie/Patty is short for Patricia.


Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up. Im part irish too but I still don't get where the pinching thing came from.

[JamesG]

Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up. Im part irish too but I still don't get where the pinching thing came from.

Don't know if you saw it or not but I explained the whole thing right above your last post.

[MonarC]

Yep. I saw that thx.;)