Saint Patrick’s Day – The Most Famous Holiday in Ireland

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick - the most important patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day commemorates the entrance of Christianity in Ireland, as well as the Irish heritage and culture in general. Public parades and festivals are common, as are céilis and the wearing of green clothing or shamrocks.

This day is also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick because of its roots in Christianity. The day was meant to be the commemoration after the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert.

On this day, restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol are lifted, which is meant to encourage the assumption of alcohol. As such, people often dance, drink, and throw a feast to celebrate.

Who Was Saint Patrick?

Saint Patrick was most notably known as the patron saint of Ireland. Although the specifics of his dates of life remain unsettled, he is believed to have lived in the fifth century.

It was said that he was never officially canonised, as he is said to have lived prior to the inception of the current laws of the Catholic Church. Regardless, he is widely revered as a Saint in both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Not Actually Irish

Contrary to popular belief, Saint Patrick wasn't actually Irish. According to Patrick’s autobiographical Confessio, when he was sixteen, Irish pirates nabbed him from his home in Britain, took him to Ireland, and made him into a slave.

He survived being a slave for six years before fleeing and returning to his home. Once he had become an ecclesiastic, he went back to Ireland. Later on in his life, he served as a bishop, but the specifics of where he worked remained elusive. By the 7th century, he had already been venerated as the patron saint of Ireland, as he was credited to have been the one who brought Christianity to Ireland.

How Did St Patrick Become A Saint?

His life was filled with mysteries and myths, and the tales in his name became more and more ingrained in Irish culture. One of the most notable of those mythologies is the legend of Saint Patrick, in that he allegedly explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three-clover shamrock, a type of leaf native to Ireland.

The many unconfirmable details about his life brought lots of doubts to his name. His uncertain dates of life, his vague record, his self-proclaimed slavery, etc, are reasons for doubters to taint his name. Many went as far as even questioning his existence.

Some didn’t go that far but did question whether things that have been traditionally associated with him were his deeds all along. An Irish academic named T. F. O'Rahilly proposed the "Two Patricks" theory.

It suggested that many traditions associated with Saint Patrick actually stemmed from Palladius, one of the earliest clerics of Ireland and a contemporary of Saint Patrick. Although the theory is highly controversial, it did raise quite a few eyebrows about just how much we “know” of Saint Patrick was true.

Why Do We Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

The reasons for celebrating Saint Patrick's Day have evolved and expanded over time. There is a variety of cultural, historical, and religious elements involved.

Religious Origins

Many people will find it surprising that Saint Patrick’s Day was never meant to be a holiday. Saint Patrick's Day was first established as a modest religious holiday in honour of the patron saint.

As it fell right in the middle of a stringent fasting period, it was seen as an opportunity to break away from all of the restraints and abstinence. It wasn’t until 1904 that it was recognised as a public holiday in Ireland.

The very first recorded St. Patrick's Day celebration didn't take place in Ireland but in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. On March 17, 1601, a parade was held in this Spanish colony, led by the Irish vicar Ricardo Artur.

Modern-Day Saint Patrick’s Day

The celebration of this holiday as we see today has a lot more to do with the immigrants rather than natives. More specifically, the Irish immigrants in America. Parades began to pop up in big US cities in the 1700s.

The pivotal moment on March 17, 1772, when homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military paraded through the streets of New York, marked the beginning of this tradition.

The enthusiasm permeated into many other major cities in the world like New York, Boston, etc. Over the following years, thanks to the surging Irish patriotism, several so-called “Irish Aid” emerged, including the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society, who would proceed to organise parades with bagpipes and drums.

In 1848, a number of Irish Aid societies based in New York decided to unite their parades into one official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. To this day, that remains the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the USA, with over 150,000 people joining. Today, nearly 3 million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the five-hour procession yearly.

Is It Bad Luck Not To Wear Green On St Patrick's Day?

While the tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is widespread, not wearing it is not actually considered bad luck. Many associate St. Patrick's Day with the saying "wear green or get pinched," suggesting some form of bad luck awaits those who don't participate. 

The association of green with Ireland likely stems from its nickname, the "Emerald Isle," a reference to its lush green landscape. Additionally, shamrocks, a national symbol, may have contributed to the colour's popularity.

Today, wearing green is more about celebrating Irish heritage and having fun than avoiding bad luck. While some playfully pinch those not in green, it's more a joke than a serious belief.

10 Things to Do on Saint Patrick’s Day

There are plenty of things to do on Saint Patrick’s Day. So, whether you’re planning to partake in the parade or stay at home, do some of the below to bathe in the atmosphere of the holiday.

1. Learn more about Saint Patrick’s Day

The day’s history dates back to the fifth century, and it’s certainly rich and fascinating. One should never walk away on the cusp of knowledge, so if you’re still in the dark about the history of Saint Patrick’s Day, this is the perfect chance to learn more.

2. Get a Shamrock Shake

Created in 1967 by McDonald’s owner Hal Rosen, this mint-flavoured, bright green smoothie slash milkshake has been a popular seasonal speciality that is widely enjoyed by many people on Saint Patrick’s Day.

3. Dress up in green

What other colour to wear on Saint Patrick’s Day other than green? But why not make use of this opportunity to go completely overboard on this day? Everyone is going to love it! Break out your greenest piece of clothing! 

4. Drink Green Beer

Green Ber seems odd, but anything that isn't green isn’t normal on Saint Patrick’s Day! Whether you love Guinness flavour or something else, make sure to booze some green bear in the spirit of the holiday.