I’ve never met a leprechaun and my drinking is not excessive. I don’t believe I’m particularly lucky and I certainly do not believe my ancestry entitles me to a kiss.

My favourite colour is Kelly green however, but that’s beside the point.

I’m Irish — or at least my heritage is. It’s something that holds no significance 365 days of the year, but on March 17 my “Irish right” supposedly entitles me to don green and celebrate my family’s homeland. But the holiday is no longer exclusively for those with Irish roots.

Many non-Irish use it as an excuse to drink, dance and celebrate Irish culture. As the saying goes, it gives everyone the opportunity to be “Irish for a day.”

However, the stereotypes perpetuated through this holiday are, in fact, quite contrary to the traditional customs of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. March 17 marks the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, one of the patron saints of the country. The feast of St. Patrick has been observed in Ireland for centuries and for Irish Catholics, this day is recognized as a holy day of obligation. Believers attend morning mass and many partake in a celebratory feast in the evening. Similar to Christmas practices, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations traditionally have a focus on family, friends, community and faith.

For a holiday deeply connected with Christian beliefs, many hold the notion that St. Patrick’s Day is about giving into the vices many Catholics abstain from during lent. Because St. Patrick’s Day is considered a feast day, it is acceptable to eat, drink and be merry even if lent requires you to fast and abstain from temptations.

Needless to say, as many Irish immigrants sailed to North America, the customs of St. Patrick’s Day came too. Celebrating Irish heritage and the feast of St. Patrick grew in popularity as non-Irish citizens opted to join in the day’s celebrations.

What many don’t realize is although drinking is synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day in North America, in Ireland St. Patrick’s Day is recognized as a national holiday — meaning that until the laws were changed in 1970, bars were not permitted to operate on this day. So although many wear green as they head for the bars in the name of Ireland, the practice is not a traditional Irish custom at all.

However, only devout Irish Christians still partake in the religious customs of St. Patrick’s Day. For the majority, March 17 is now seen as a non-secular celebration of stereotypical Irish culture.

But one question has always perplexed me: why Ireland?

I am a big fan of Irish culture and am proud to say that not only am I Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but all the other days as well. But Irish is not the only culture that deserves a celebration.

Perhaps it’s the excuse to party that has secured Ireland’s place on our calendars. Everyone loves to have a good time and if people are given an excuse to drink, few will turn that invitation down.

But the misconception that St. Patrick’s Day is about drinking and drinking is the basis of Irish culture, has contributed to the stereotype that Irish people are drunks. Not only that, but nationally celebrating Irish culture while ignoring the other vast number of culturally inspired holidays seems unfair.

Those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Canada seem to fall within two schools of thought. The first are those who appreciate the traditions of Ireland and celebrate the rich music, dance and heritage that either fascinates them or is a part of their roots. The other — and probably more popular group of St. Patrick’s Day enthusiasts — celebrate the more superficial side of the holiday.

Regardless of where you fall, the important thing is to remember the Irish stereotypes paraded today are not representative of actual Irish culture. There are no leprechauns or pots of gold, no lucky charms and there’s no more binge drinking in Ireland than there is in Canada.