St. Patrick's Day

The History of St. Patrick's Day

The first saint Patrick's day took place in America- not Ireland as you might assume, dating back as far as to march 17, 1601. The holiday was named after the 15th century Patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who was born as Maewyn Succat and changed his name after he became a priest. Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain, then was kidnapped and brought to Ireland at the age of 16 as a slave. Later he escaped to America but returned to Ireland and was credited for introducing Christianity to its people.

The legend of Saint Patrick is one of the most well-known stories in Irish folklore, highlighting the holy trinity using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. One main defining feature of Saint Patrick's day is the leprechaun, who were called lobercains, or “small-bodied fellows” in Irish lore; they are not a large part of Celtic belief and were minor “trickster” fairies responsible for mending shoes. Comparing the old Saint Patrick's day to what the holiday is today shows quite a difference. Up until the 1970s, pubs in Ireland were closed due to it being solely a religious holiday, Yet now the country uses this holiday to draw worldwide attention to its culture, and also alcohol. In Chicago, the Chicago River is annually dyed green in celebration of Saint Patrick's day, and they hold a parade with over 2 million spectators and participants. Saint patricks day is a holiday that has evolved over the years and became a celebration that has spread throughout the world.