Lent in Ireland
An Irishman walks into a bar in Dublin, orders three pints of Guinness and sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more. The bartender asks him, "You know, a pint of Guinness goes flat minutes after I pour it; it tastes better if you drink one at a time."
The Irishman replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in America, the other in Australia, and I'm here in Dublin. When we all left home, we promised that we would have a drink in this way to remember the days when we drank together."
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.
The Irishman becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way, ordering three pints and drinking them in turn. One day, he comes in and orders two pints. All the other regulars notice this and fall silent - assuming that one of the brothers has died.
When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I am very sorry for your loss, and I want to offer my condolences on the great loss of your brother."
The Irishman looks confused for a moment, then a light dawns in his eye and he laughs loud.
"Oh, no," he says, "Everyone's fine. I've just quit drink for Lent."