By Jason KUROSU

St. Patrick’s Day, the enduring celebration of everything Irish, hosts a number of traditions. In elementary school, the only tradition routinely followed is the wearing of green, lest one desires pinching and general harassment.

Lincoln Elementary took it a step further this St. Patrick’s Day with an exhibition of some of the holiday’s cultural customs. A bagpipe player and some traditional Irish dancing were on display for the students as they lined up for class that morning.

“This is the first year we’ve done this kind of celebration for St. Patrick’s Day,” Lincoln Principal Bill Card said. “I just thought it would be a good way to start the day off right by showing them how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated.”

Although generally more associated with Scotland — , Jennifer Febre, the piper who performed at Lincoln, is the Pipe Major for the Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums — bagpipes are a part of traditional Irish music and are heavily associated with St. Patrick’s Day, particularly in the United States.

Febre, dressed in a kilt, performed several traditional tunes for the students, many of whom were adorned in various shades of green and no doubt witnessing their first live bagpiping performance.

While Febre provided the auditory stimulation, a duo of dancers provided the visual. As Febre played, sisters Shayla and Ciara Martin, former Lincoln Elementary students, showcased some traditional Irish dancing. They too were dressed in the appropriate attire with very ornate, decorative dresses.

In between performing along with the music, the Martin sisters showed the students the dances slowly, going step by step. Students took their shots at mimicking the moves, including third grader Sinead Martin, the dancers’ younger sister.

As 8:15 a.m. rolled around, all the celebratory fun made some forget that it was indeed a school day. Classes started and the mass of green that was Lincoln’s student body made their way to their classrooms.

  lincoln elementary, St. Patrick’s Day