Since elementary school, we have known of St. Patrick’s day as the day to wear green or you will be pinched. Also, as the day that the Leprechauns will come out, and the day to find a four-leaf clover. Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? How did it start?
Looking for a four-leaf clover, wearing green, hunting for those not wearing green, searching for the cauldron of gold at the end of the rainbow, and more are just part of the fun that we have as we celebrate St. Patrick’s day.
Who is St. Patrick?
“Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle.” Surprisingly, Saint Patrick was not born in Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain, and lived through the fifth century. When Saint Patrick was about 16 years old, Ireland started to raid Roman Britain, taking people from Britain to be used as slaves. Saint Patrick was one of those people. At 16 years old, Saint Patrick was kidnapped and taken to be a slave. About 10 years later, Saint Patrick escaped Ireland. Years later, he returned to Ireland and taught people about Christianity. He was well known for teaching people about the Holy Trinity by using a three leaf clover, the shamrock.
How did St. Patrick’s Day celebrations start?
“In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture.” After Saint Patrick’s death, people in Ireland have been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by observing the Roman Catholic Feast day on March 17.
However, the first parade for St. Patrick’s day was not held in Ireland. It was held in America. In the early 1600s, the very first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in a Spanish colony, which is now know as St. Augustine, Florida. It was “organized by the Spanish Colony’s Irish vicar Ricardo Artur.”
Years later, a group of homesick Irish soldiers serving in the military organized the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York on March 17. These two parades have sparked the celebration of St. Patrick’s day around the world.
Today, there are several celebrations and parties dedicated to Saint Patrick and those of the Irish heritage.
Why do we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?
Originally, Saint Patrick was associated with the color blue, not green. The green for St. Patrick’s day came from the landscape of Ireland and the color of the shamrock. Wearing green on St. Patrick’s day is just a fun tradition every year.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!