« GOP's Cote, Laffey set fundraising dinner | Main | Candidates are distant relatives to the stars, president »

March 24, 2008

State House celebrates 2 saints

If the close of last week marked a solemn occasion, the beginning was anything but.

With celebrations throughout the state commemorating St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s days, there were green beer and zeppoles aplenty in the Ocean State.

Nowhere was the merriment more, well, merry, than in the House of Representatives chamber where members held their annual “Two Saints” celebration.

Tuesday afternoon, the flags of Ireland and Italy flew high above the rostrum and the annual ceremony began with a traditional “taste” of Irish whiskey and prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, and a slew of prayers and toasts that followed.

House legislators paid tribute to their heritages and of course, poked their fair share of fun. Then it was on to a heartburn-inducing gastronomic feast of corned beef and zeppoles.

Speaker William J. Murphy trumped Political Scene, answering our favorite question before we got to ask it: he paid for the celebration out of his campaign funds, as he has done for all six years of his tenure as speaker.

Now in its fourth decade, the dual holiday celebration is considered a tame affair compared with what it once was.

Astute State House observers remembered Two Saints ceremonies from decades past when cigar smoke filled the chamber and lawmakers and their guests swilled green beer from kegs planted on the marble corridors of the third floor. A Providence Journal story in the 1980s describes workmen tapping kegs well before noon, while green and red balloons flooded the balconies.

By Cynthia Needham, Katherine Gregg and Edward Fitzpatrick
-- Journal staff writers

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 9:21 AM | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: L'ordre du bon temps at March 24, 2008 9:38 AM

Posted by: John Young at March 24, 2008 8:46 PM

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)