March 17, 2021 – National Corned Beef And Cabbage Day | St. Patrick’s Day

Today Everyone Is Happy To Be Irish!

Welcome to March 17, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the luck of the Irish and dish fit for a king. 

While corned beef and cabbage showed up in Irish Cuisine around the 12th Century, it was not a widely eaten dish.  It is said that the king used this meal to “purge himself of gluttony,” whatever that means. Both cattle and salt were expensive and a cheaper version of cabbage and bacon was more popular amongst the peasants in the Emerald Isle.  Here in America, Jewish immigrants perfected corned beef and when the Irish came over in the 1800s, they substituted beef for the bacon in their favorite dish.  It’s not clear if this recipe exchange happened at a friendly potluck, but on National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day we are happy to celebrate with a true melting pot of flavors.  

Harry Truman was the first United States President to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.  But the parade itself has been celebrated annually since before the United States was a country.  Held in 1762, the first St. Paddy’s Day parade was composed of homesick Irish immigrants living in the New York colonies.  It has taken place every year since then to the delight of millions of revelers, Irish or otherwise. This time honored tradition of marching down 5th Avenue draws visitors to the Big Apple from around the globe.  While things may be different in your neck of the woods, don’t miss your chance to drink green beer, while singing Danny Boy a little too loud. On St Patrick’s Day everyone enjoys being Irish. 

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.


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