Why do Americans celebrate Ireland?

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM QUAD EDITOR

Outside of the Fourth of July, St. Patrick’s Day is the only other American holiday that celebrates national pride with such fervor. Why do Americans have such a strong attachment to Irish heritage, even when they’re not Irish themselves?

The answer is: It has more to do with American history than Irish history.

St. Patrick’s Day is perhaps one of the greatest success stories of the “melting pot” view of American culture. It is a combination of old-world traditions with an added American flair, creating something new that anyone can enjoy regardless of cultural heritage.

According to 2021 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 31 million Americans claim Irish ancestry—more than the current population of Ireland, which is just over 5 million. Many of the biggest U.S. cities were populated by Irish immigrants in their heyday, creating cultural strongholds where any excuse to celebrate memories of the old country could arise. It’s no surprise that parade and celebrations arose around March 17, the day set aside to honor one of Ireland’s patron saints, St. Patrick.

Even the foods we enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day are mainly American inventions. Corned beef and hash, for instance, is a meal heavily associated with St. Patrick’s Day, but it is not a traditional meal of Ireland. Instead, the low cost of corned beef made it an easily available food to immigrants already residing in the United States.

From its beginning in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was observed as a holy day to honor the man who brought

Christianity to the nation of Ireland. Only upon coming to American shores did it become a festival to celebrate Irish heritage and serve as a great excuse for a green-themed party.

For a holiday that now includes much quaffing of beer, some might be surprised to know that the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in St. Paul was partially motivated by the temperance movement of Irish Catholics. Originally, the day included speeches, a flag-raising and a fired salute. The festivities grew bigger each year and reached a high point in 1901, when parade organizers made an arrangement with railroad tycoon James J. Hill to lower rates for the occasion. More than 4,000 people participated in the parade that year.

SEE ST. PATRICK’S DAY, PAGE 16

SEE CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 15