"My mom's side is Scots-Irish, however as Protestants, they never made any big deal over St Patrick's day. Wouldn't you think that true of most the Scots-Irish in the South?
It does seem that St. Patrick's day is celebrated more in the North than the South (outside of New Orleans)."
Yes that is true, in the more traditional sense it is a Catholic Holiday - but you could say the same about St. Valentine's Day as well - and the next time that Holiday rolls around try using that excuse for not celebrating it to your protestant wife.
That would be a sure way to get me killed.