Saint Patrick’s Day is the day when people all over America dress up in green, attempt to catch leprechauns, and eat delicious food. However, the history of who and what St Patrick’s Day is about is not well-known.
Origin of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick’s Day originated from Ireland. It was a religious holiday that took place over 1000 years ago. Saint Patrick lived during the fifth century and was a patron saint of Ireland. As a teenager, he was kidnapped and taken away to be a slave. He later escaped slavery, returned to Ireland, and taught people about Christianity. His death date is believed to be on March 17, 461. The most well-known legend of St Patrick’s is that he used the clover to describe the holy trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Early Celebrations
The people of Ireland celebrate St Patrick’s Day because they want to honor St Patrick and all that he did for them. Back then, these celebrations could have contained music, food, and a lot of dancing. A “ traditional” meal contained corned beef and cabbage. Celebrations also included
Celebrations in the US
The first recorded record in America took place in 1762 in New York City. A lot of Irish immigrants had crossed into the US to flee the Potato famine. With new people coming to the US, lots of different ideas and cultures came along, and thus, St Patrick’s Day was introduced. Celebrations in the US contain lots of green. So much green, that canels get dyed green to show the spirit. According to qz.com “more than 1 in 10 people in us have ancestors who left Ireland”. This shows us why St Patrick’s Day is a huge deal here. Many people are proud of where they came from, so it makes sense that this holiday is celebrated.
Saugus Student
When Saugus student Cole Littlefield was asked if he celebrated St Patrick’s Day, he responded “ I don’t really celebrate because it kinda irrelevant.” However, St Patrick’s Day is an important curatorial tradition and continues to be celebrated across the country.
