"To many, St. Patrick’s Day might just be a random day in March where you get pinched if you don’t wear green. But just like any other holiday, there’s more behind it. But why do we celebrate it? " --Ruby Deetz, 7th Grade
To many, St. Patrick’s Day might just be a random day in March where you get pinched if you don’t wear green. But just like any other holiday, there’s more behind it. But why do we celebrate it?
What is St. Patrick’s Day About?According to Historic UK, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated on March 17th since St. Patrick's death in the fifth century. As early as the ninth or tenth century, Christians celebrated it as a religious feast day. The holiday was officially incorporated into the Church calendar in the early 17th century. The first St. Patrick's Day parade, though not the rowdy one we know today, took place in 1601 at St. Augustine, Florida.
Who was Saint Patrick?According to Historic UK, little is known about his early life, but it is thought that he was seized and sold into slavery along with thousands of people by a group of Irish marauders raiding his family estate. Patrick was a slave for six years, during which he lived and worked alone as a shepherd. He eventually escaped his captors, and according to his writings, a voice spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To that goal, it is said that Patrick walked about 200 miles from County Mayo, where he was imprisoned, to the Irish coast. Following his escape, Patrick supposedly had a second revelation. An angel in a dream told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Shortly after, Patrick traveled to Gaul to study religion with Germanus, bishop of Auxerre (agg-zeer). His studies lasted almost fifteen years, culminating in his ordination as a priest.
He eventually went back to Ireland to join other early missionaries, most likely staying in Armagh (aar-maa), with the goal of converting the Irish pagan population to Christianity. His seventh-century biographers enthusiastically claim that he converted all of Ireland to Christianity. St. Patrick's ministry in Ireland lasted around thirty years, following which he retired to County Down. It is said that he died on March 17th, AD 461. Since then, that day has been celebrated as St. Patrick's Day.
Why green?
Why do we associate St. Patrick's day with the color green? Well, because Ireland is an island, also known as the Emerald Isle, because of its lush trees and grassy hills.However, the color that was initially connected with St. Patrick was blue! According to Smithsonian Magazine, This color can also be found on several ancient Irish flags. Green was ultimately integrated into St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the 18th century, when the shamrock (which is, of course, green) became a national symbol. Because of the shamrock's popularity and Ireland's geography, the color became synonymous with the celebration. But why was the color blue ever associated with St. Patrick’s day? The color blue has been associated with St. Patrick since the 1780s, when it was designated as the color of the Anglo-Irish Order of St Patrick. The name alludes to a sky blue worn by the Order of St Patrick, which is frequently confused in Ireland with a darker, richer blue.
Traditions
How is St. Patricks Day typically celebrated? Here are 5 suggestions.
1. Searching for 4-leaf-clovers
These rare pieces of greenery, long regarded as a Celtic good luck symbol, are the ultimate needle in a haystack. If the grassy surrounds around your home have turned green, spend some time looking for your own token.
2. Watching Irish dancers
On St. Patrick's Day, it's fun to see Irish dancers glide, leap, and vault over the floor. Many parades and festivals are sure to feature performances.
3. Attend Mass
If you are religious, you may be able to find a special St. Patrick's Day ceremony on March 17th. In Ireland, the day is considered a holy day of obligation, which means that churchgoers are required to attend mass.
4. Make Irirsh Soda Bread
It turns out that the Irish loaf is one of the easiest breads to make because it utilizes baking soda instead of yeast and does not require any rising time. Serve with a generous spread of Irish butter. (Here’s a recipe)
5. Go to a parade
Attending a lively, cheerful St. Patrick's Day parade will immediately put you in the mood for the holiday. Parades are held all around the world to commemorate the day, including in the United States, Ireland, Australia, Russia, and elsewhere.
What is St. Patrick’s Day About?According to Historic UK, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated on March 17th since St. Patrick's death in the fifth century. As early as the ninth or tenth century, Christians celebrated it as a religious feast day. The holiday was officially incorporated into the Church calendar in the early 17th century. The first St. Patrick's Day parade, though not the rowdy one we know today, took place in 1601 at St. Augustine, Florida.
Who was Saint Patrick?According to Historic UK, little is known about his early life, but it is thought that he was seized and sold into slavery along with thousands of people by a group of Irish marauders raiding his family estate. Patrick was a slave for six years, during which he lived and worked alone as a shepherd. He eventually escaped his captors, and according to his writings, a voice spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.
To that goal, it is said that Patrick walked about 200 miles from County Mayo, where he was imprisoned, to the Irish coast. Following his escape, Patrick supposedly had a second revelation. An angel in a dream told him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Shortly after, Patrick traveled to Gaul to study religion with Germanus, bishop of Auxerre (agg-zeer). His studies lasted almost fifteen years, culminating in his ordination as a priest.
He eventually went back to Ireland to join other early missionaries, most likely staying in Armagh (aar-maa), with the goal of converting the Irish pagan population to Christianity. His seventh-century biographers enthusiastically claim that he converted all of Ireland to Christianity. St. Patrick's ministry in Ireland lasted around thirty years, following which he retired to County Down. It is said that he died on March 17th, AD 461. Since then, that day has been celebrated as St. Patrick's Day.
Why green?
Why do we associate St. Patrick's day with the color green? Well, because Ireland is an island, also known as the Emerald Isle, because of its lush trees and grassy hills.However, the color that was initially connected with St. Patrick was blue! According to Smithsonian Magazine, This color can also be found on several ancient Irish flags. Green was ultimately integrated into St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the 18th century, when the shamrock (which is, of course, green) became a national symbol. Because of the shamrock's popularity and Ireland's geography, the color became synonymous with the celebration. But why was the color blue ever associated with St. Patrick’s day? The color blue has been associated with St. Patrick since the 1780s, when it was designated as the color of the Anglo-Irish Order of St Patrick. The name alludes to a sky blue worn by the Order of St Patrick, which is frequently confused in Ireland with a darker, richer blue.
Traditions
How is St. Patricks Day typically celebrated? Here are 5 suggestions.
1. Searching for 4-leaf-clovers
These rare pieces of greenery, long regarded as a Celtic good luck symbol, are the ultimate needle in a haystack. If the grassy surrounds around your home have turned green, spend some time looking for your own token.
2. Watching Irish dancers
On St. Patrick's Day, it's fun to see Irish dancers glide, leap, and vault over the floor. Many parades and festivals are sure to feature performances.
3. Attend Mass
If you are religious, you may be able to find a special St. Patrick's Day ceremony on March 17th. In Ireland, the day is considered a holy day of obligation, which means that churchgoers are required to attend mass.
4. Make Irirsh Soda Bread
It turns out that the Irish loaf is one of the easiest breads to make because it utilizes baking soda instead of yeast and does not require any rising time. Serve with a generous spread of Irish butter. (Here’s a recipe)
5. Go to a parade
Attending a lively, cheerful St. Patrick's Day parade will immediately put you in the mood for the holiday. Parades are held all around the world to commemorate the day, including in the United States, Ireland, Australia, Russia, and elsewhere.