When we think about St. Patrick’s Day in America, we often think of wearing green, shamrock shakes, and a leprechaun sitting at the end of a rainbow with a pot of gold. The origins of the holiday look quite different from that. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17th worldwide, with thousands of people gathering for massive celebrations in honor of their Irish heritage. While it is a primarily secular holiday today, the origins of St. Patrick’s Day stem from the patron saint of Ireland.

          Saint Patrick was a fifth-century missionary credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. In his autobiography, Confessio, he recounts the story of his childhood. He writes that he was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was around 16 years old from his parent’s home in Roman Britain and taken to Ireland to work as a slave. He was forced to work in the fields as an animal herder before escaping on a ship to return home. Saint Patrick’s devotion to religion began early in his life and was one of the things he held on to during his time as a slave. When he returned to Britain, he continued to study Christianity, later being ordained into the priesthood and consecrated as a bishop. After receiving his titles, Saint Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary, following his vision that urged him to spread the message of Christianity to the Irish people. He succeeded, as the 2022 Census of Ireland recorded 77% of Irish citizens identifying as Roman Catholic. Saint Patrick is now known as the Apostle of Ireland, and legends say he used three leaf shamrocks to explain the relationship between the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. March 17th is considered his day of death, which is now when people celebrate his life and work.

          St. Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is now used more broadly to celebrate Irish heritage and culture. Initially, the day would include church services in the morning and a feast afterward, as it was a religious holiday. Since it fell during Lent, the typical prohibitions against eating meat and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day. They were not celebrating with massive parades and pints of Guinness like we do now. Wearing green was a later addition, as blue was the official holiday color until the Irish Rebellion in 1798. Irish soldiers and citizens adopted green clothing during the rebellion to oppose Britain’s red coats, which they were later persecuted for. The green stands for Irish pride and is further explained in the song “The Wearing of the Green.” There are many iterations of this Irish street ballad. Still, they all express distaste towards the British soldiers and the persecution they faced at their hands, as well as love for Ireland and pride in their signature green clothing.

          St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays globally, with celebrations on every continent. Irish immigrants and soldiers heavily inspired the traditions we see today. The holiday was first introduced in America in the late 1700s, with the first city to host a celebration being Boston in 1737. The first parade in New York City occurred in 1762, 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Irish ex-patriots and military members serving in the British Army and stationed in New York desired a way to celebrate their heritage on St. Patrick’s Day, even if they weren’t in Ireland. They wore green, spoke Irish, sang Irish songs, and played music on their pipes. New York City has held this parade every year since; likewise, Boston has continued its celebrations. Chicago is well known for the annual dyeing of the river. Typically, on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, boats glide through the Chicago River, dumping environmentally friendly green dye into it. People are encouraged to watch the spectacle, take a boat cruise down the green river, and enjoy the parade that follows. 

          Ireland did not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like America did until recently. It was not a public holiday, where banks, schools, and many businesses were closed, until 1904. Going to bars was also not a part of the celebration because pubs were closed on that day until the 1960s. Ireland did not host its own parade until 1903, but now, festivals occur all over the country. The biggest celebration happens in Dublin with a three-day festival of traditional Irish food, dancing, and music. This year, the festival dates are March 15th-17th, and the theme is Adventure. They boast of being a multicultural and international event committed to showing off contemporary and traditional arts, culture, and heritage. The festival is recognized as one of the largest in the world and is a key driver for the Irish tourism industry.

          When big celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day occur, we often don’t think about the history behind them because they have become so commonplace. But if we truly want to appreciate what we’re celebrating, it is essential to understand the culture that it comes from. St. Patrick’s Day looks much different now than it did, but it still celebrates and symbolizes Irish people’s deep love for their heritage and culture. The world we live in today has shown disdain for cultural differences, so it is more important than ever that we embrace them.