GPHS St. Patrick's day Celebrations

In this article, Regan shares how GPHS students celebrate St. Patrick's Day differently.

How do GPHS Students celebrate St. patrick's day?

By Regan Snyder

Out of the multitude of March holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most notable to many Americans. Although the Americanized version of the festivities sharply differs from the holiday’s Irish origins, the traditions have become a staple in countless American homes. Celebrations can vary greatly from individual to individual, but how do students at Grants Pass High School approach the holiday?

St. Patrick's Day, falling on Mar. 17 each year, has Irish origins and began as a celebration of the Emerald Isle’s patron saint, Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick, originally from Roman Britain, was kidnapped by Irish pirates as a teenager and taken to Ireland. He eventually escaped his captors but later returned to Ireland and played a large role in spreading Christianity throughout the country. According to The History Channel, his death fell on Mar.17, 461 A.D. and was turned into a religious holiday. Traditionally, church was attended in the morning and feasting commenced in the afternoon. The celebration was brought to America by Irish immigrants in the 1700s, where the holiday transformed into a more secular celebration of Irish culture. The American tradition of celebrating with a meal of corned beef and cabbage is unique to the United States and, according to Westchester Magazine, is a variant of the Irish meal of bacon and cabbage. Like corned beef and cabbage, most traditions of American St. Patrick’s Day are the result of immigration and the mixing of cultures.

Image of St. Patrick, credits to Celtic Druid Temple

Image of corned beef and cabbage, credits to Easy, Elegant, Recipes, and Entertaining Ideas

The spirit of St. Patrick’s Day is very much alive at Grants Pass High School, with students celebrating the holiday in various ways. GPHS senior Fallon Rosebraugh stated that the holiday is dear to her due to her own Irish heritage. She celebrates by “wearing her favorite green clothes”, “looking into her pot of gold”, and “getting her pinching fingers ready.” Another senior student, Clover Chatfield, also expressed their love of the holiday, stating that their family lavishly decorates their house and that they have a “not-Irish” dinner of corned beef, cabbage, carrots and dill, and succotash. An anonymous student was excited for the joyous day and proclaimed that they like to “do a little jig” to celebrate. Senior Meg Rasmussen took a less enthusiastic approach, saying, “Sometimes I wear green if I remember.” Senior Daniel Reynolds echoed this, stating that he “doesn’t really decorate” and “tries to remember to wear green.” Regardless of the intensity of the festivities, it seems that St. Patrick’s Day has an overarching cultural impact on GPHS students.

St. Patrick’s Day has been a part of American pop culture for hundreds of years, with traditions diverging significantly from its Irish roots. The nationwide festivities of St. Patrick’s Day are without a doubt being practiced among the youth of Grants Pass and are a continual reminder of the cultural mixing at the forefront of American society.

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