St. Patrick's Day History

St. Patrick is widely known throughout the world as the patron saint of Ireland. Many also know the legend that he drove out all the snakes of Ireland, but beyond that who is St. Patrick?  The patron saint of Ireland was actually born in Britain and according to History.com he did not come from a particularly religious family. At 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by Irish raiders and held captive in Ireland for 6 years. In this time of isolation and fear, he turned to his religion for comfort and became a devout Christian. He eventually escaped to Britain but returned to Ireland after he was told by an angel in a dream that he was to become a missionary. In order to convert the Irish, he chose to incorporate traditional ritual into his lessons of Christianity.  St. Patrick died on Mar. 17, which is his feast day still today.

            The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day began in America in the 1700’s by Irish indentured servants. The festivities began as a way for them to show how proud they were of their Irish background. Celebrations and festivities for the celebration of Mar. 17 did not begin in Ireland until the 1900’s. According to Junior Shannon Pierson, who has a strong Irish background and won the title of 2011 Arizona Irish Lass for her excellence in Irish dancing, “In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is more of a religious holiday though there are festivals and parades”. The community goes to mass and then celebrates by having a drink or attending a festival. The religious aspect of the holiday that still holds true in Ireland is disregarded by Americans. In the U.S., Americans celebrate St. Patty’s Day by going to pubs and wearing green “Kiss Me I’m Irish” shirts, “people focus mainly on wearing green and partying to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in America” says Pierson. Also to celebrate, the city of Chicago dyes the Chicago River green (a tradition which started in 1962) and the White House dyes the fountain green as well. However St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated it is clear that this saint will not be forgotten anytime soon because it seems everyone is having too much fun commemorating him!