{"id":114,"date":"2008-03-16T22:23:42","date_gmt":"2008-03-17T05:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chimatli.org\/blog\/?p=114"},"modified":"2014-03-16T17:30:02","modified_gmt":"2014-03-17T00:30:02","slug":"saint-patricks-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chimatli.org\/blog\/?p=114","title":{"rendered":"Saint Patrick’s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"san-patricio.jpg\"<\/a>
\nSan Patricio Battalion Flag<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be argued that St Patrick’s Day is like a local holiday in my neighborhood, despite the fact there is no sizable Irish community in this area. Here in Lincoln Heights, it’s common to see people wearing shamrock paraphernalia all year round. As was recently pointed out to me, stores in Lincoln Heights will stock green colored clothing more frequently as it tends to sell more quickly than other colors. Shamrocks magically grace the walls after long weekend nights, spreading the luck of the Irish throughout our little hood.
\n<\/p>\n

One year my previous neighbors, who were as chuntaro as you can get, had a huge St Patrick’s day party with green streamers, green balloons, and leprechauns. I couldn’t figure out why these kids of Mexican heritage would celebrate St Patrick’s when they rarely celebrated any other holidays. They didn’t even put that much effort into their own birthday parties. Then it dawned on me, the name of their gang, which was taken from a small street that no longer exists*<\/a>, is the name of an Irish symbol. I imagine these celebrations, which show no hint of irony or recognition of the absurd cross cultural hybridism, will most likely take place again this year.<\/p>\n

San Patricios<\/strong>
\nThere are many cultural connections between the Irish and Mexicans than just the random name of an extinct road in an old Los Angeles Mexican-American neighborhood. Back when I used to do an underground radio show, we did a piece on the cultural connections between Mexican and Irish and more specifically, the San Patricio Battalion<\/a>, a group of Irish soldiers who deserted the US army for Mexico during the the US-Mexican War. On the other side of the Rio Grande, the Irish soldiers found prettier women, better food, livelier living and sympathetic Catholic brothers. Hey, sounds like Lincoln Heights! There’s even a movie<\/a> and documentary<\/a> about these smart turncoats. To add to this historical tribute, the Eastside band Ollin just released an album<\/a> dedicated to the San Patricios.
\nSo though St. Patty’s day might seem initially out of place here on the Eastside, there’s many reasons why Mexicans\/Latinos and other Eastsiders would choose to recognize the date. Just take your pick.<\/p>\n

Music to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day<\/strong>
\nTo add to the cross cultural mix, here’s the Mexican garage band Los Rockin’ Rebeldes singing the Irish-American standard, Danny Boy:
\nDanny Boy-Los Rockin’ Rebeldes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"margaret_barry1.jpg\"<\/a>
\nTraveller Margaret Barry with her banjo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Next, one of my favorite Irish folk tunes by Margaret Barry<\/a>. A song about crooked cops, prejudice and poetic justice, quite appropriate for Mexican Saint Patrick’s Day!
\nMoses Ritoolarilay by Margaret Barry<\/a><\/p>\n

More on Margaret Barry from the album Traditional Songs of Ireland, Saydisc Records, England, 1995.<\/em><\/p>\n

Margaret is in full voice now and this unusual Street Ballad was one of her special favourites. She liked the Jew for getting the meddlesome policeman into trouble. She’d always save it for the moment when she saw a local peeler, a man of the law, coming down the street to move her on.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

lyrics:<\/p>\n

O the bobby have gone like a hen on a cleave
\nA vision came on with a bee on his sleeve
\nPromotion he whispered I’ll try for today
\nNow come with me Moses Ritooral-li-ay<\/em><\/p>\n

O the bobby marched on he was lord of the town
\nHe suddenly stopped with a snort & frown
\nPromotion he whispered I’ll try for today
\nNow come with me Moses Ritooral-li-ay<\/p>\n

Come tell me your name says the limb of the law
\nTo the the little fat man white as death on the straw
\nWhat’s that sir? My name sir?
\nWas dear on the day
\nAnd its Moses Ritooral-li-ooral-li-ay<\/p>\n

O the trial it came on and lasted a week
\nOne Judge says ‘Twas German,
\nanother ’twas Greek
\nThough be Ireland says Chedra be on
\nthe Crimay
\nAnd they’ll seize on this Moses Ritooral-li-ay<\/p>\n

O he turned to the prisoner as stiff as a crutch
\nAre you Irish or English or German or Dutch?
\nI’m a Jew, sir, I’m a Jew, sir
\nthat came over to stay
\nAnd my name it is Moses Ritooral-li-ay<\/p>\n

There’s a sorrowful scavenger
\nsweeps on the street
\nHe once was a peeler the pride of his beat
\nHe moans all the night and he groans all the day
\nSinging: Moses Ritooral-li-ay<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

*Added 3\/17\/2012:<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe street still does exist, excuse my inaccurate information.
\n