Blog #3

Can serious drinking be part of one’s cultural heritage?

            Everyone grows up in a different household and are exposed to different atmospheres and cultures. Families tend to have certain traditions based on their heritage that is unique from others. A typical stereotype is that all Irish people are drunks. The Irish know that St. Patrick’s Day is a day filled with a big celebration of drinking, parades, corn beef and cabbage, and potatoes. Italians also drink together and have a glass of wine with their meal at night. Sundays is when the family gathers for a big meal, and they enjoy their pasta with a glass of wine. It calms them all down, and the family wishes each other good luck as they all make a toast with their wine glasses. Even though I feel that drinking is part of ones heritage, not everyone follows the tradition. Some Italians and Irish may not drink at all or be encouraged to drink. But for the most part, if you are raised around drinking, you are most likely to follow the tradition. Then you will send it on to your family, and the cycle continues.