St. Patrick’s Day History and Celebrations

Whether you celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17th, by indulging in green beer and Irish cuisine, or wearing shirts that say, “Kiss Me, I’m Irish!” there is actually significant history and rumored events that spurred the creation, evolution, and celebration of this holiday. The origins of St. Patrick's Day may be surprising considering the way we widely celebrate Irish festivities with leprechauns, shamrocks, and green today.

Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century, he was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.

He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people.

One of the most popular legends associated with St. Patrick is that he stood atop an Irish hillside and banished snakes from Ireland, prompting all snakes to slither away into the sea. However, research according to historians and fossil records suggests snakes never occupied Ireland. Scholars propose the “snakes” in the story to be less literal and more of a symbol for pagans converting to Christianity, as the reptile was frequently seen as an emblem for Satan in biblical tales.

The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would typically attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. During the holiday, the Lent prohibitions of consuming meat were waived and people danced, drank, and feasted on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

As early as the 9th and 10th century, Christians observed the holiday as a religious feast day and the holiday was officially added to the Church calendar in the early 17th century. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t actually take place in Ireland. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.

Enthusiasm for St. Patrick's Day parades and celebrations in New York City, Boston and other early American cities only increased after homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City on March 17, 1772 to honor Saint Patrick. Cities in Boston, New York, and Chicago, which is famed for dyeing its river green since 1962, still offer some of the biggest celebrations dedicated to Saint Patrick. The holiday's Irish American roots also explain why some traditional St. Patrick's Day foods, like corned beef and cabbage, are not actually Irish.

Following the Irish Rebellion of 1798 the shade green became associated with the holiday. Blue was originally associated with St. Patrick's Day because it adorned the ancient Irish flag. The rebels wore green to differentiate themselves from the British, who wore red, and the color has since come to denote Ireland and the Irish to all the world.

Shamrocks, the national plant of Ireland, also added to the sea of green on March 17. Though legend holds that Saint Patrick used three-leafed shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity, there is no historical evidence to prove it.

The Leprechaun is another icon of the Irish holiday. The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns probably stemmed from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. Leprechauns have their own holiday on May 13th but are also widely celebrated on St. Patrick's Day.

So if you happen to attend a parade, wear green or shamrocks, or drink Irish beer to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this month, knowing the rich history and understanding the evolution of St. Patrick’s Day will certainly broaden your perspective of the tradition and festivities surrounding the Irish holiday.