What is St. Patrick’s Day? Why do we celebrate it? The Irish holiday explained
In Ireland, March 17th is a big cultural and national holiday that is known as St. Patrick’s Day. It is the day that Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated for his efforts in giving Christianity to Ireland and converting the pagans.
The holiday has grown through centuries by mixing religious observance with cultural activities.It is a public holiday in Ireland that includes religious services, parades, festivals and other cultural events. During this time, Irish people celebrate their heritage and their sense of self while paying homage to the contributions made by St. Patrick to Irish history.
However, outside of Ireland particularly in America, St.Patrick’s Day has taken on different meanings. Instead it turned into a widely celebrated occasion characterized mainly by its festive atmosphere that include parades, parties and wearing green clothes all over the place. Also many cities dye their rivers or fountains green.
St.Patrick’s Day in America is often associated with Irish-American culture and heritage. The millions of Americans who claim Irish ancestry have an opportunity to embrace their roots and mark this holiday as being part their nationality.
St.Patrick’s Day has also become known for drinking several alcoholic beverages including beer which has been dyed green just for that day.
Here is what to know about St. Patrick’s Day:
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What is the meaning behind St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, brought to the Emerald Isle when he was kidnapped and enslaved. Though he eventually escaped, he returned and advanced Christianity throughout the island.
Witt says the day gives Irish and Irish Americans the opportunity to “celebrate their heritage,” and Stack agrees that the parades in places like the states and England convey “that the Irish people have made a contribution to the society – that they were sort of welcomed, that they were accepted as citizens.”
Once a solemn religious holiday, Stack said it didn’t take on the drinking stereotype until America started celebrating the day.
It is still a bank holiday and a big family day in Ireland, even though St. Patrick himself was supposedly born in Britain.
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Why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on March 17?
March 17 is the day St. Patrick is believed to have died.
Irish people in America by the numbers
According to apress release from the U.S. Census Bureau, many Americans have something to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day:
- 30.7 millionU.S. residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2022.
- Cook County, Illinois,which includes Chicago, is the nation’s county with the largest Irish-American population, according to 2022 data. The population comes in at 418,997.
- 112,251 U.S. residentswere born in Ireland.
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Fun fact: The original color associated with St. Patrick isn’t green
St. Patrick is actuallytied to the color blue.So why do people cloak themselves in green?
“The Irish Americans would wear the green as a reminder that they were nationalists first and foremost,” explains Witt. “The colors of the Irish flag are green, white and orange, the green symbolizing the Irish nationalism, the orange symbolizing the Orangemen of the north and the white symbolizing peace.”
Stack mentions themythical beliefthat green is to be worn to “make you invisible to leprechauns,” which she says originated in America.
Is St. Patrick’s Day a federal holiday?
St. Patrick’s Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. Post offices, banks, and most businesses and stores will be open on Friday, even amid parades and other celebrations.