Rich in culture and camaraderie, Saint Patrick’s Day evolved from the celebration of a fallen saint to a celebration of Irish heritage.
Saint Patrick was born in the late 4th century to a wealthy British family that named him Maewyn Succat. When Saint Patrick was 16, Irish enslavers abducted him from his villa and sold him as a shepherd in Ireland, likely to County Mayo near Killala – according to History.com. During his 6 years tending sheep, Patrick developed a devotion to Christianity. He turned to religion to cope with the isolation of his solitary affliction. Then, believing God’s voice commanded him to leave Ireland, he returned to Britain. In another dream shortly after, an angel instructed he return to Ireland as a missionary.
Interestingly, Saint Patrick utilized cultural integration to spread Christianity to Ireland. Most famously, he used the shamrock to represent the Holy Trinity (a religious term indicating the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Although the holiday’s color was originally blue, people associate green with the holiday likely due to the Saint Patrick’s shamrock. He also associated the sun, a symbol then deeply ingrained in Irish culture, with the Christian cross endeavoring to make the symbol more natural.
Saint Patrick’s death on March 17 of 461 marked the holiday known around the world. Initially, Irish people meant to celebrate Saint Patrick’s life, exaggerating myths and creating legends around his figure. Later, in 1600, the first celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day as we know it now occurred in St. Augustine, Florida. A year later, the same Spanish Colony threw together the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, setting a precedent that would later be followed by Irish immigrants in Boston and New York City. In the late 18th century, Saint Patrick’s Day became a time for those of Irish heritage to come together and celebrate. It continued to grow into the 19th and 20th centuries; particularly, when the Potato Famine pushed up to 1.5 million Irish men and women to immigrate into America. Unfortunately, this exacerbated the tensions between the Christians and the incoming Catholics, leading to massive anti-Irish and anti-Catholic perspectives – oftentimes violent and degrading. This showcased the need for Saint Patrick’s Day, a time in which Irish immigrants could celebrate and revel.
In all, Saint Patrick’s Day is beautifully rich in history, from its Christian beginnings to its unifying end. From Leprechauns to pinching, the day is evermore filled with culture and stories.