Green I want you green! Saint Patrick’s Day or Saint Patrick, the most famous Irish celebration in the world, is here!
But who is that man? Why is everyone wearing hats? Where do leprechauns and clovers come from? Why do you have to drink beer like there is no tomorrow?
What is the origin of Saint Patrick’s Day?
Saint Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated on March 17. What began as a religious celebration in commemoration of his death has been transformed into a popular and massive festival where the color green, shamrocks and beers are a distinctive part of the celebration. According to legend, Saint Patrick is the boss. Not only did he bring Christianity to the island, but he made the shamrock (three-leaf clover) fashionable and rid Ireland of snakes.
Who was Saint Patrick really? The Irish patron saint was born in a small Scottish town at the end of the fourth century and was called Maewyn Succat. According to legend, he was kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland as a teenager. He was working as a shepherd until he managed to escape to France and was ordained as a priest under the name of Patricius.
At the age of 46, he decided to return to Ireland to evangelize its inhabitants and create various schools, churches and monasteries.Saint Patrick became the first person to preach Christianity in Ireland, a pagan land at the time and which today is the third country with the most Catholics in the West, behind Italy and Spain. He died on March 17, 461 in Saul, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. He was officially considered the patron saint of Ireland in 1780 and the feast of Saint Patrick’s Day became an iconic date for the Irish.
How did the party come about? Ireland officially began celebrating the day in 1903. Since the Emerald Isle is largely Catholic and St. Patrick’s Day usually coincides with Lent, it traditionally used to be a quiet, religious holiday. Lent restrictions were lifted, giving Christians a breathing space.
Basically, you could eat and drink as much as you wanted, hence the traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage. However, drinking whiskey and beer was not allowed.In fact, until the 1970s, Irish law mandated that pubs close on March 17.
However, beginning in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to harness the interest in St. Patrick’s Day to boost tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. When and where is Saint Patrick’s Day celebrated? Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17, the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death. In some places they move the day to a different date if March 17 falls on Easter.
How is Saint Patrick’s Day celebrated?Approximately one million people annually participate in the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin. A multi-day celebration of parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks displays. Parties featuring Irish food and drinks dyed green are part of this celebration. It is also typical to enjoy a pint of beer in a typical Irish pub.
