St. Patrick's Day: The luck of the Irish will be with you-as long as you show some common sense

Today is St. Patrick's Day.

The day when everyone is Irish, no matter your background or whether you are Texarkana or any other city from coast to coast.

St. Patrick's Day is the traditional feast day of one of Ireland's most beloved patron saints.

In the Republic of Ireland, the day is a national holiday. For many years the holiday was mostly a religious observance in that country-in fact, pubs were closed by law on St. Patrick's Day until the 1970s.

In the U.S., though, the unofficial holiday has long been a time for celebration of Irish culture, food and drink. Especially drink.

Many American cities, notably Boston-which held the first St. Patrick's Day parade in 1761-put on a big celebration to mark the day. Just an hour and half away from us in Hot Springs, revelers will be enjoying the "First Ever Eleventh Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade," an elaborate celebration "officially" held on tiny Bridge Street but actually spread to the surrounding area. NSYNC's Joey Fatone is the grand marshal this year and the official starter for the parade is Jon Heder, best known for his starring role in the cult classic "Napoleon Dynamite." After the parade there will be a free concert by Morris Day and the Time.

The trend has spread to other parts of the world as well, including Ireland itself. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Irish government decided it was time to adopt a bit of American exuberance and use St. Patrick's Day to promote tourism and Irish culture. Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade now draws more than half a million people annually.

Yes, everyone will be wearing the green today. Many will indulge this evening in the traditional fare of corned beef and cabbage. Many more will take advantage of barroom specials and quaff down more than their share of green beer.

And that will likely leave many feeling a bit green around the gills tomorrow morning.

Be ware, though, that the police know it's St. Patrick's Day, too. And the consequences of too much beer and driving could be much worse than a little upset stomach the next day-especially when you consider this year's celebration falls on a Saturday.

So enjoy yourself, but don't just rely on the luck of the Irish. Use your brains as well.

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