BOSTON -- Wednesday may be St. Patrick's Day for the Irish, but to state workers and Suffolk County government employees, it's Evacuation Day -- or as some call it, a "high hack holiday."

City Hall was shut down, but Mayor Tom Menino defended Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day as paid holidays for government workers.

"It's difficult to get rid of the hack holidays," Menino said. "(They are) important to the formation of Boston."

Most lawmakers who showed up for work at the Statehouse were dressed down. Few want to get rid of two holidays that cost taxpayers $10 million a year.

"I'm going to have to research the issue," Rep. Robert Spellane said. "I have no comment."

But for the most part, there were locked doors, dark offices and very few people around. Even those who were at work will get a floating holiday later.

Republicans gathered at a caucus, even though the Statehouse was officially closed.

"These two holidays are an insult to the taxpayers," Sen. Michael Knapik said.

But what's an insult to one is a holiday to another. The governor is among the few who wants to get rid of the holidays.