US
There are 196 countries in the world, yet none have a 'national holiday' as widely celebrated as Ireland's St Patrick's Day. So, what is it about Paddy's Day that makes everyone want to be Irish, at least for a day?
The reason is relatively obvious. Ireland, and more specifically the Irish, are simply the greatest people on earth. Supporting evidence from Ireland's culture and history includes:
- They do 'coffee' better than anyone
- They built the Brooklyn Bridge, and then half of NYC
- They invented the color photograph, bacon, and the binaural stethoscope (worn well by George Clooney in almost every episode of ER)
- 44 million Americans claim Irish ancestry, and Americans are pretty awesome
- It's the birthplace of a very wise man named John Fitzgibbon
- Halloween was derived from a Pagan Irish festival
- They gave the world U2, Oscar Wilde, Pearce Brosnan, Daniel Day Lewis, and a very famous fish monger named Molly Malone.
- They've brought Irish pubs, aka Guinness, to the farthest corners of the earth, including Katmandu, Ushuaia, Baku, and a little place called Pawtucket.
But most importantly, the Irish are some of the most welcoming, light-hearted, hilarious people you'll ever meet. And who wouldn't want to emulate that?
