BookmarkHistory of St. Patrick's Day
La fheile Padraig sona daoibh! (Happy St. Patrick's Day!)
Originally imported from Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has become something of an international phenomenon, in many respects more popular abroad than in its birthplace. Celebrating the patron saint of Ireland who lived from 386 to 493AD, this primarily religious holiday came to the United States with the arrival of millions of Irish immigrants, where it morphed into a celebration of all things Irish. Although not a federal holiday, many cities hold annual parades and civic events on March 17 in observance.
Olden days
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day customs focused on the religious significance of the historical figure of St. Patrick and his role in adapting Catholicism to Irish culture. Celebrated by both the Catholic and Anglican churches, the holiday's tone was overtly religious for hundreds of years. In Protestant-dominated Northern Ireland, the people enjoyed a more scaled down version of the holiday by closing banks and other official businesses. In 1903, the Bank Holiday Act, introduced by Irish MP James O'Mara, made St. Patrick's Day a national holiday in Ireland.
Influence of immigration
As a result of social and political changes in Ireland, notably the continuing influence of colonial England over the island and the constant strife between religious groups, many Irish people immigrated abroad. Irish immigrants brought Saint Patrick's Day to the United States; celebration of the event occurred in America as early as 1737, when an Irish procession marched through the streets of Boston, Massachusetts.
In New York City (currently the site of the world's largest St. Patrick's Day parade), Irish soldiers assembled at the Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1756. Even George Washington celebrated the holiday, giving his soldiers in the Continental Army the day off during the St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. Irish Americans imbued the holiday with a general celebration of Irish culture in colorful parades and marches.
Modern customs
Increasingly secular, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations have become part of American life, enjoyed as they are by people of many ancestries. Typical activities include the consumption of Irish food and drink, the singing of Irish songs, and festive decoration involving the color green to symbolize the Emerald Isle. The American tradition requires the wearing of at least one article of green clothing for the duration of the day. The city of Chicago famously dyes the Chicago River green every year in celebration. Aside from the parades in New York, Chicago, and Boston, other notable St. Patrick's Day celebrations take place in Dublin (and all over Ireland, where the customs of Irish immigrants have influenced the mother country), Manchester, Montreal, Savannah, Denver, and Scranton. Large parades also take place throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as in Australia and Asia.
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