Sportin' Life wrote:Clash Cadillac wrote:philipchevron wrote:* Only the Lace Curtain Irish used the front doors of their house in Boston. That's how they knew John F Kennedy was not a real Boston-Irishman (a Southie) when he ran for the Senate.
Just one of the things I love about this site is learning little tidbits like this... thanks.
That is a nice little fact. My mum always defines lace-curtain Irish as those that 'keep fruit in the house even when no-one is ill,' but I never had any idea where it came from.

I can't quite remember where I first heard this: possibly the US TV documentary series
Out Of Ireland some years back, or maybe
Long Journey Home. One of those history things, anyhow. Kennedy was, like most political candidates, in the habit of canvassing at the front doors of people's houses, not the back door as locals did, but some of the generation of Boston Irish, less than impressed by the Hollywood glamour of the candidate, chose to (or pretended to) hold this against him.
I love your mom's description.