At this point, we should all be familiar with St.Patrick’s Day as a green wearing, corned beef eating, and beer/whiskey drinking holiday. St.Patrick’s Day is actually a very religious holiday very rich in culture.
It is traditionally celebrated on March 17th and commemorates St. Patrick, one of the most recognised saints of Ireland. Today, he is one of the most recognised saints in the world. He was born in Britain. Early on in his life, he was captured and sold into slavery to become a sheep farmer. A few years later, he escaped and spend his early adult years in a monastery. During his 30’s, he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary.
Not only is St.Patrick’s day an Irish and American holiday, but it is also a worldwide celebration of Irish history and culture. Did you know that over 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry? That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland which has a population of over 4.1 million people.
One fun thing that we all might associate with St.Patrick’s Day are the parades. One of the biggest festivals exists in Dublin form March 15th-19th. The festival includes a parade, carnivals and dances. Sounds like a fun party! Here in the states, Chicago has a huge St. Patty’s day parade. They have a special dye, lasting for a few hours to dye the Chicago River green. Then of course, the very Irish city of Boston’s parade has been taking place since 1737.
The shamrock has been a long time traditional icon for St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick himself used the leaf to explain the Trinity during his teachings. He used it in sermons to represent how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. Soon his followers adopted the shamrock, soon after the custom came to America in 1737. The same year that St.Patrick’s Day was publicly celebrated in this country, taking place in Boston.
Whether or not you are celebrating your Irish heritage this year, there is a little something for everyone on St. Paddy’s Day for everyone to enjoy. So put on your green shirt and join in with the luck of the Irish!