What is St. Patrick's Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day is a widely celebrated annual holiday with Irish-American heritage. The day is observed in the United States and across the world as a celebration of Ireland’s patron Saint, the “Apostle of Ireland”, Saint Patrick. The day has become a widely commercialized holiday in the 21st century, with a range of activities taking place such as parades, Irish-themed parties, music and cultural events. To obtain a deeper understanding of the significance of Saint Patrick’s Day, let’s discuss the origin, celebration activities, and traditions surrounding this special event.
Saint Patrick’s Day has its roots in the celebration of Saint Patrick, who was a 5th century Christian missionary. Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and introduced Christianity to the people of the country. He is credited with using the Shamrock or “three-leaf clover” to explain the Holy Trinity, an important Christian concept to his audience. Saint Patrick was born in Britain, but was kidnapped at 16 and brought to Ireland as a slave where he lived in poverty and servitude. After being “called” by God to return to Ireland as a missionary, Saint Patrick begins his work of introducing Christianity to what was then a predominantly Pagan country. Today, Saint Patrick’s Day remembers and celebrates his mission in Ireland and serves as an opportunity to honor his legacy and celebrate Irish culture and identity.
In general, Saint Patrick’s Day is observed with the wearing of green attire and the hoisting of the Irish national flag. A parade down the streets is a popular activity on the day, with people carrying leprechauns, a traditional symbol of Irish folklore. Common day-of items worn by parade watchers include traditional Irish clothing such as kilts, celtic jewelry, and St. Patrick’s Day T-shirts. Along with parades, Irish-themed parties are popularly attended by people everywhere. Traditional Irish dance, music, and food are included at these events. Irish cuisine such as soda and potato bread, shepherd’s pie, and colcannon, as well as drinks like Irish coffee, Guinness beer, and Celtic teas are served.
Generally, special collections are conducted in churches and donations are given to charity for various causes. Other activities on Saint Patrick’s Day include lighting and decorating shamrocks, spinning a dreidel, and floating candles in the river. It is part of the tradition to give small gifts such as cards, chocolates, and green-colored items. In the evening, many people twirl around in Irish jigs while enjoying the festive atmosphere. Thus, in summary, Saint Patrick’s Day is a joyous holiday to remember the Irish patron saint, Saint Patrick and celebrates the Irish culture and identity.
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