Why Do Americans Pinch People on St. Patrick's Day? | #shorts

[geekbride]

“Not a leprechaun” … exactly what a leprechaun would say

[JasonOFlaherty]

It’s because leprechauns can’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. You pinch someone to see if they turn back into a leprechaun and if they do, you get some of their gold.

[ashtonstout]

As an American, I can confirm that it is absolutely just a reason to pinch people. It’s basically an extremely mild version of “The Purge”.

[pmc]

I grew up in the 60-70s. Definately there was pinching but it was a childrens thing. Declaring your underwear was green was handy if you could get them to believe you.

[PeriwinklePig]

I remember that from my childhood, though I don't see anybody older than elementary school-age children doing this tbh.

[pbrstreetgang]

I remember “the pinch” as a grade school thing in the late 70s to 80s

[jacksmith]

I’m fairly young, and an American with Irish heritage, but I’ve heard of pinching people for not wearing green (and been pinched especially hard for wearing orange on accident) on st Patrick’s day. In fact it’s one of the first things I ever learned about the holiday. Odd so many others who are older than me haven’t heard of it.

[slipperyjohnson]

I'm from Boston. I lived in South Boston for part of my life and even when I moved I always went back for the parade. I have never even heard of this. But I can say if you pinch someone in Southie for no reason you're now in a fight so maybe that's why 😂😂

[ponyxaviors]

My birthday is on St. Patrick's Day, and I've always been obligated to wear green on my birthday because of that. My family has always joked about pinching if you don't wear green, although I don't think any of them ever actually went through with it the few times I rebelled to having an obligatory color to wear on my birthday. I think my cousin pinched me once though. Rude thing to do on someone's birthday, now that I'm thinking about it.

[BznKL]

A lot of Irish came to the copper mines in Butte, Montana back in the day. Growing up in that state in the 1970s, St. Paaddys was a big deal, and the pinching custom was known by everyone I met on that day!

[Mickiwalk]

In Nebraska, it was a huge thing in elementary school. I think if you got pinched but were wearing green (maybe hidden green like underwear), you got to take revenge. Slug to the arm?

[floramew]

I'm intrigued that a bunch of folks are saying they've never heard of the pinching thing. I'm a military brat and have lived a few different places over my life, the bulk of which has been in the Midwest (which is ironically more east than anything lol) and the Southwest (which is actually accurate), about 2000 miles apart. And both places def had folks who I think just liked to pinch folks.

[flipnick]

Idk why, but I love the way at the very end she says "Frowned Upon ".. it's absolutely adorable.

[donnaroberts]

I’m looking forward to your video with Diane. She’s great! And I’ve definitely heard that you get pinched on St Patrick’s Day if you aren’t wearing green. I’m 59 and I grew up in Michigan.

[katerivers]

My understanding is that catholics wore green and protestants wore orange. If you didn't wear green, you got pinched because you weren't catholic.

[SmartCatDad]

It's a kids thing. Adults don't generally do that.

[SkrToon]

I have at Patrick’s day on my calendar, not to celebrate but so I don’t forget to wear something green. Even if it’s a green pin or hair scrunchie. I have some immature co-workers.

Half way through high school the Christian school I was at found out that green = Catholic & Protestant = orange (from where I don’t know). So they started to pinch you if you didn’t also wear orange (what happened to love thy neighbor??). So since high school, depending on the people I’ll be around I may have to work both green & orange (colors that do not go together) into my wardrobe to avoid a pinch. It’s too much!!

[The-Armed-Pacifist]

I'm 75 and I never heard of that. It probably saved me from assault charges.

[BDUBZ]

When Ron from accounting pinched you, did he say "OOH Laurence!"? It may be for a different reason. 😂

[Minotaurable]

I'm still bitter about the time I got pinched by someone who didn't think the shade of teal I was wearing was green enough.
Bluish green is still green, darn it!