Pop the Top Off a Green Beer
When people hear the term St. Patrick’s Day they often envision shamrocks, leprechauns and corned beef and cabbage. Over the years, the holiday, celebrated annually on March 17th, has become synonymous with all the popular clichés of Ireland. What many people don’t realize, however, is that St. Patrick’s Day is actually a religious holiday, meant to honor the famous saint on the anniversary of his death in the 5th century. While the Irish have laid claim to the holiday for over 1,000 years, it’s a day that is widely celebrated across the globe.
History
Saint Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with introducing the country to Christianity. Legend holds that he used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, forever tying in the green leafy plant to the country’s rich history. Beginning around the 10th century, the people of Ireland began celebrating the feast of St. Patrick every year on March 17th. Even though the date falls during Lent, the Lenten prohibition of eating meat was waived so that the holiday could be celebrated with traditional feast of Irish bacon and cabbage. Irish families would begin the day by attending church in the morning and then celebrate in the afternoon with food, drink and dancing.
A Worldwide Celebration
Today, St. Patrick’s Day is observed and celebrated in countries all around the world, with festivities such as parties and parades. Interestingly, the very first parade in honor of St. Patrick was not held in Ireland, but in the United States, although it was carried out by Irish soldiers. On March 17, 1762, the soldiers marched the streets of New York City, playing music and reconnecting with their strong Irish roots. This tradition has been carried on every year since, and the parade has grown to become the world’s oldest civilian parade. With more than 150,000 participants, it’s also the US’s largest. Some 3 million people line the parade route to watch the five hour event. Other cities across the US and throughout Canada have since joined ranks holding their own parades.
North America isn’t the only region that has embraced the St. Patty’s celebration, however. The date is also observed in such countries as Australia, Japan, Singapore and Russia. Of course, Ireland remains the Mecca, if you will, of the famous holiday. Previous laws that prohibited pubs from being open on this religious day have since been abolished and the country now uses the date, and all of its traditions, as a way to welcome tourists and celebrate their own culture and heritage. Each year nearly 1 million people gather to participate in the multi-day St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, which features parades, outdoor theater productions, concerts and even fireworks.
A Tradition Lives On
This year’s celebration is fast approaching with plenty of planned events and activities throughout the world. Wherever you plan to celebrate, there is certain to be music, laughter and enough corned beef, cabbage to make it unforgettable. So, raise your glass of frothy green beer and make a toast to Saint Patrick, Ireland and the rich tradition that we’ve all come to know and love.