I've been half-Irish (Boston Irish at that) all my life, and I swear I've

[Redstone]

never heard of this business of pinching people! Where the hell did it come from?

I know I forget things, but I think I would have remembered that if I'd ever heard of it.

Redsotne

[edbermac]

1. I think pinching as in Whitey Bulger pinching...

[DS1]

2. Whitey wouldn't piss around with singles

;-)

[Gormy Cuss]

3. Thank you Redstone -- it's odd to me too.

Likewise, I grew up in an Irish-American community where the old men still had brogues and lived in Boston for years and never encountered this pinching business.

[Redstone]

5. Thanks a ton...good to know it's not just me.

Even back when we lived in Holyoke (early sixties, when if you threw a rock and you didn't hit a Portuguese, you'd hit an Irishman), I never heard of it. We kids were mean little bastards who would have jumped on the excuse to pinch each other.

Redstone

[Nikia]

4. I grew up in Ohio and heard it in elementary school

Some children actually did pinch other children who were not wearing green on St Patrick's day.

[mikeytherat]

6. In Jr. High, someone pinched me for not wearing green, and I slugged him

When he asked, "Why?", I responded, "I'm half-Sicilian. You're lucky that's all you got."

mikey_the_rat

[Redstone]

7. Excellent. I never wore green on St Paddy's day. Just to be ornery.

Still don't. But I'd not wear orange either because that would be acting like an asshole. (Plus, I don't own any orange clothes.)

Redstone

[mikeytherat]

9. I'm half French and half Sicilian

Someone once commented, "So, that means you really know how to surrender."

I looked at him and said, "No. It means your girlfriend wants to fuck me, and if you give me any guff about it, I'll make sure they never find your body."

:evilgrin:

mikey_the_rat

[Book Lover]

13. Snap!

like the kids say today... :lol:

[johnnie]

8. I asked this a few years ago here

I never heard of it before until I came to DU.

[Redstone]

10. The "Off the Mark" cartoon today was about this. I couldn't figure out

what the hell he was talking abot until this afternoon.

Redstone

[In_The_Wind]

11. I've never heard of pinching!

Anyone who did that to me is likely to draw back a nub for their efforts!

[Book Lover]

12. Thank you! Me neither

and I grew up in Catholic Queens. If someone tried to pinch any of us, they'd be picking themselves up off the floor...

[Kali]

14. Interesting

family not particularly Irish but I think my Grandmother knew about pinching if not wearing green. I know it from at least back in the 60's when I was younger than I am now.


My kids all got me today before I put a green ponytail holder on my wrist.

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. According to this site, it's about being seen by Leprechauns

http://www.chaliceuu.org/sermons/Archive/stpat.htm

“The History and Practices
of St. Patrick’s Day”

<snip>
(...or "pinch, if you will...LOL)

And by the way, the reason people began to pinch those who did not wear green on this holiday, was a reminder that leprechauns would sneak up and pinch those who could be seen on this day. In order not to be seen, one must be green as leprechauns are green. Thus, if you wear green, you remain unseen, and thus cannot be pinched.

[Redstone]

18. Well, that's pretty stupid. But thanks for the info.

Redstone

[Missy Vixen]

16. My mother

>never heard of this business of pinching people! Where the hell did it come from?<

She started it. When I was a little girl, she used to pin one of those shamrocks made of pipecleaners to my clothes on St. Patrick's Day and tell me, "Now, you tell them that if they pinch you, it's seven years' bad luck."

It's all her fault.

Julie
mom's family is Irish and I'm wearing green today

[Left Is Write]

17. They did it when I was a kid in school...

They'd shout "Greenie on you!" after a pinch if you weren't wearing green.

Not being Irish did not exempt one from having to wear green.

I don't get it. I never have and a I never will get it.

[havocmom]

19. Always thought it was some boys in my grade school who came up with it

We beat the shit out of them the second year