St. Patrick’s Day History

AOIBHE CHARLES ‘24

What’s with all the green? You might be wondering why once March rolls around, different shades of green fill the shelves of stores nationwide. Well, you may be surprised to hear why…

St. Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is observed globally on March 17th. This annual celebration marks the death of St. Patrick in 461. According to many ancient folktales, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people of Ireland. As he recounted, the three leaves symbolize the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock, green in color, eventually became a religious symbol of St. Patrick across the pagan country and an essential emblem of the fete.

The holiday originated in 1631 when the Catholic Church established a feast day honoring St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The day commemorates him and marks the arrival of Christianity to Ireland. While it was once a smaller affair celebrated with religious services in Ireland, once Irish immigrants came to the United States, they brought their cultural holiday with them. It was then that St. Patrick’s Day became a celebration of Irish culture spread around the world.

In the 21st century, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by eating traditional Irish meals, dressing head to toe in green, and attending parades. Whether you’re one of the 2 million spectators at the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade or simply enjoying a slice of Irish soda bread, Sláinte!