In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day—and by special request from my friend Patrick, who assures me that most Patricks are sensitive to this issue—Sloppy Bullets would like to remind you that the proper abbreviation for this shamrocks and green beer holiday is St. Paddy’s Day, not St. Patty’s Day.
Why are all the Patricks of the world so touchy about this? My research tells me it’s because Patty is a female nickname for Patricia (which is itself the female form of Patrick). And when you think about it, it makes sense. After all, have you ever met a male Patty? No? I didn’t think so. Neither have I.
So then if not Patty, why Paddy? Where do those ‘d’s come from? The male nickname of Paddy, as it turns out, derives from Pádraig, the Irish form of Patrick. Going straight to the Irish root is appropriate for a holiday in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, is it not?
Sláinte!
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