Every year on the 17th of March, people all around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, music, and lots of green. But under all the extravagance, St. Patrick’s Day also has a rich culture and history of over a thousand years. From its beginnings as a religious celebration to its evolution into an international celebration, St. Patricks day has become an unforgettable holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day honors St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. He was born in Britain in the late 4th or early 5th century. St. Patrick was kidnapped at the age of 16 by Irish raiders and brought to Ireland as a slave. He escaped after several years and journeyed back home but was eventually driven to return to Ireland as a missionary. He is also credited with spreading Christianity throughout the island, using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. It is also said that St. Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland, though that is likely an allegory to his efforts at eliminating pagan practices.
After his death on March 17th, 461 AD, St. Patrick was consecrated as Ireland’s greatest saint. March 17th, year after year, became Ireland’s religious feast day, being observed with church ceremonies and devotions.
It had been centuries that St. Patrick’s Day had been celebrated in Ireland as a day of solemnity. It was not yet popular in the states until the Irish emigrants began to mark their heritage. The first noted St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in 1737 in Boston and then in 1762 by New York City. This was primarily spurred on by Irish soldiers of the British army who were keen on commemorating their homeland.
As Irish immigrants poured into the U.S. in the 19th century, particularly during the Great Irish Famine, St. Patrick’s Day became an emblem of Irish heritage. Urban centers with significant Irish populations, including Chicago and New York, enlarged festivities, including music, dancing, and dressing in green—a reference to Ireland’s nickname, the Emerald Isle.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated well beyond America and Ireland nowadays. Canada, Australia, and the U.K. all host parades and festivals in big cities. Even countries that aren’t particularly Irish-friendly, such as Japan and Argentina, jump into the spirit.
The most famous tradition is likely the dyeing of the Chicago River green, which began in 1962. Dublin, Ireland, has also embraced the holiday’s global popularity with an annual St. Patrick’s Festival, attracting travelers from across the globe.
A majority of St. Patrick’s Day symbols originated from Ireland. Shamrock, for example, is purported to have been used by St. Patrick to describe Christian teachings. The color green was embraced for use on the day due to the topography of Ireland and for representing Irish nationalism. The leprechaun, which was an Irish fairy that was reported to be playful, is another common St. Patrick’s Day symbol.
While the majority of individuals associate the holiday with beer drinking—typically green-colored—the day remains an important religious and cultural holiday in Ireland, where people attend church first before festivities.
St. Patrick’s Day has come a long way from its religious origins in Ireland. What began as a serious day of reverence for St. Patrick has become a global celebration of Irish heritage, culture, and community. If you decide to celebrate with a Guinness, at a parade, or even by simply wearing the color green, St. Patrick’s Day is a testament to the history and the Irish people’s strong will.
