Saint Pat

March 17th every year, millions of people wear the green, hold big parades and drink bucket loads of beer, all in the name of an old Irish saint. But why? What is the history of this much loved holiday, and why do we celebrate it in all corners of the world with shamrocks and alcohol?

While many people mainly use the day as a justification to drink a countless quantity of booze, it is still—first and foremost—a day to celebrate Irish heritage and culture.

Let’s go over some of the reason why we celebrate paddies day and look a little closer into the myth and realities of St. Patrick.

Who was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick is well known for being the patron saint of Ireland and having a day named for him that most of the world uses as an excuse to get incredibly drunk. However, contrary to popular belief, St. Patrick was not actually Irish! St. Patrick was the son of Romans who were living in Britain, around 385AD. As a boy of 14 he was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland where he spent six years herding sheep. He returned to Ireland in his 30s as a missionary among the Celtic pagans. Rather than replacing pagan Irish rituals, he incorporated them into his teachings, hence the shamrock. (Halloween is another Irish festival that we all know and love so well)

 

Shamrocks

The shamrock is the traditional symbol because St. Patrick used it to explain the connection between the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) in the Christian religion. It is the symbol of Ireland, and wearing and displaying shamrocks has become a widespread practice on St. Patrick’s Day.

Why green?

Wearing green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day to commemorate his use of the shamrock. Although blue was originally the color of his vestments, green has become symbolic of the holiday. Green represents spring, a season celebrated by the ancient Irish to honor their harvest gods and the arrival of spring. Additionally, Ireland’s lush, green landscape and the green shamrocks contribute to this association. Wearing green also helps distinguish the Irish from the British.

You don’t have to wear green clothes on St. Patrick’s Day, a sprig of shamrock on your clothing can do.

Parades and celebration?

 

St. Patrick Day Parade

Well, you might not have noticed, but the Irish are everywhere, and so are Irish bars. The Irish are a sentimental bunch, and they often miss their homeland when abroad. In fact, more Irish people live outside Ireland than on the island itself. It’s estimated that around 100 million people of Irish descent reside in countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Notably, over 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry.

Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day is a way to honor Ireland and its culture. Many cities worldwide host parades to mark the occasion. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in America took place in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade holds the title of the largest parade in the world. On the other hand, the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade occurs in the Irish village of Dripsey. It stretches just 100 yards, covering the distance between the village’s two pubs.

And the 17th of March is when St Patrick died, supposedly!

The snake?

One of his most famous miracles attributed to St. P was the driving of serpents out of Ireland. However, evidence suggests post-glacial Ireland never had any snakes in the first place. That’s a pity!

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

The post Who was St. Patrick? appeared first on This Drinking Life.