Date: March 17th
On this day, most of the world will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! The religious day is celebrated annually on the 17th of March and traditionally represents the day it is believed that St. Patrick passed away in 460 A.D. Though the Irish have observed the day for thousands of years, and see the day as much more than a time to drink Guinness and wear green, it is a curious matter as to why North Americans celebrate it–and why they celebrate it in the way that they do.
St. Patrick, who is the beloved patron saint of Ireland, is famous for spinning exaggerated tales, making his actual life somewhat of a mystery. It is known that he was born in Britain and, at the age of 16, was captured by Irish raiders and held captive in Ireland for six years. In this time he became a devout Christian, and after 15 years of study and an escape to Britain, Patrick was ordained as a priest and sent to Ireland to convert the Irish people. Thanks to his knowledge of the Irish language and culture, he was able to mix the pagan ideas with that of Christianity, and so the Celtic cross was born.
The history of St. Patrick’s Day in North America is quite different, however, beginning with Irish soldiers serving in the British army. The very first parade—which was held in New York City—helped the homesick Irish connect with their roots through the familiar traditional music, and helped them to connect with one another, finding strength in numbers. To this day, it is seen as a show of strength and pride of Irish culture. Not to mention that it’s a great day to have a pint!
—By: Alexandra Grant