Saint Patrick’s Day
March 17, 2017
You may have noticed things are looking a little greener this week. The greens of spring are starting to bud in some places, but this week’s greens—and today’s in particular—can be traced to the ancient Christian missionary Saint Patrick. March 17, today, is Saint Patrick’s Day, the feast day and traditional death date of Saint Patrick in A.D. 461. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and in many places around the world, people put up green decorations and wear green clothing to honor Ireland—the Emerald Isle—and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday is often called Saint Paddy’s Day, a nickname derived from the Irish version of Patrick, Pádraig.
A large St. Patrick’s Day parade is held each year in Chicago, where the Chicago River is dyed (harmlessly) bright green in honor of the holiday. Credit: Max Talbot-Minkin (licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the 400′s. He converted the Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a religious holiday. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services. They also enjoy family and community gatherings. They celebrate by wearing shamrocks. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity to the Irish. Saint Paddy’s Day takes place during Lent each year, but restrictions on eating meat and drinking alcohol are typically relaxed for the holiday.
Saint Patrick is said to have used a shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity. Credit: © Shutterstock
In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a secular (nonreligious) holiday. Many people hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in what is now the United States was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Today, more than 100 U.S. cities hold parades. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City is the largest. Montreal, Quebec, hosts a grand celebration of the holiday, as do such world cities as Adelaide, Australia; Birmingham, England; and Cape Town, South Africa.
