History of Saint Patrick’s Day

This archived article was written by: Nathan Pena

March 17 is a day dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. It is an event usually held in Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. St. Patrick’s Day is a day where people dress up in green clothing and celebrate by drinking alcohol in pubs and bars and being absorbed in the festivities. What makes St. Patrick’s Day so popular? What brought about the holiday that originated from Ireland international recognition?
It is best to begin with the man that the holiday is named after: Saint Patrick. He was born in Roman Britain. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest. Despite the religious background, Patrick was not a believer. At 16, Patrick was captured by a group of pirates who sold him into slavery and held him captive for six years. During those years, he worked as a shepherd and his relationship with God strengthened through prayers that led to his conversion to Christianity. After six years, Patrick heard a voice calling to him, urging him to return home. He fled his master and found a ship that took him to Britain to continue to study Christianity.
Much of what was known of Patrick was that he returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. He spent many years converting the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands. Tradition holds that he died on March 17, the date of Saint Patrick’s Day.
It is customary to wear shamrocks or green clothing or accessories on Saint Patrick’s Day. It uses the shamrock, a three-leaved plant representing the Holy Trinity that was used to teach the pagan Irish. The color green has also been associated in Ireland since the 1640s, when the Irish Catholic Confederation used the green harp flag. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the color green and the association with Saint Patrick’s Day grew to the point of international recognition. During the day, restrictions on eating and the drinking of alcohol are lifted which encouraged the popularization of drinking.
While not an official holiday in the U.S., Saint Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. These celebrations include displays of the color green, eating and drinking, religious observance and parades. History has a way of transforming normal men into an almost deified state that we tend to forget where a certain holiday originated. Now widely recognized in many countries, Saint Patrick’s Day has become a holiday of loud and fun festivities, while also a somber observance to the patron saint of Ireland.