Every year on March 17, people around the world gather to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. They celebrate by wearing green clothing, attending fun parades, and honoring Irish culture. However, many people who participate in these celebrations do not understand why the holiday is celebrated in the first place. So, in order to dive deeper into this holiday, what is St. Patrick’s Day?
According to Britannica, St. Patrick’s Day honors Saint Patrick, who is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He was born in Britain during the late fourth-fifth century and was kidnapped at the age of 16. He was snatched from his father’s villa and taken to Ireland as a slave. He later fled and boarded a ship finding his passage to Britain, though he nearly died from starvation and faced captivity once again for a small period of time, he was able to reunite with his family. He chose to return to Ireland again but this time as a missionary. He gave out gifts to many people and accepted none in return.
Legends of Patrick grew over time but the most popular is the legend of shamrock. Patrick used a shamrock which is a small three leaf clover. He used the shamrock to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity which is three persons in one God. Over time, he became one of Ireland’s most beloved religious figures.
Originally, St. Patrick’s Day was a religious feast day in Ireland. Now, it has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture. One of the traditions recognized the most is wearing green. Green is heavily associated with Ireland and the country is called the Emerald Isle because of its lush green landscape. The shamrock is also considered Ireland’s national symbol. People believe wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns who are mischievous little figures from Irish folklore who pinch anyone they see.
Today St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated not only by the Irish, but also by cities with large Irish populations like New York City, which hosts massive parades each year. New York City’s parade is one of the largest in the world, drawing millions of watchers and participants from all over.
While some celebrate just by doing something simple like attending church services, others enjoy Irish music, spend time with friends, or even host their own parades and parties. Whether people are celebrating for culture, traditions, or simply to have fun, St. Patrick’s Day brings people together in a sea of green. This year get out there and have fun and do not forget to watch out for those leprechauns and do not get punched for not wearing green!
