Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

The celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th is associated with fun parades and all things green! It has been a religious feast in Ireland for more than a millennium. It was traditionally commemorated with religious feasts and ceremonies in honor of St. Patrick’s Death in 461. The tradition later transformed into a secular celebration of Irish culture after immigrants moved to the United States. Now, this holiday is widely celebrated in Canada, Australia, and throughout the United States.

St. Patrick was a missionary during the 5th century who brought Christianity to Ireland. He became a national apostle and the patron saint of Ireland in the 7th century. After his death, mythologies regarding his life surfaced and became part of the Irish culture. The most widely known myth surrounding St. Patrick is that he used the three leaves of the shamrock, an indigenous Irish clover, to describe the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Fun Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

There are many interesting facts and details linked to St. Patrick and his holiday. How many do you know?

• Patrick was born in Britain.
• The first parade of St. Patrick's Day happened in America.
• A St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York can take over five hours.
• Patrick's Day was not formally observed in Dublin until 1931.
• Green hadn't been officially tied to St. Patrick's Day until the year of the Irish Rebellion (1798). The color blue was originally associated with St. Patrick.
• Many Irish-Americans in the US consume corned beef and cabbage to celebrate.

There is no denying that people love the green holiday, regardless of traditions or history!