Although Saint Patrick’s Day is a great time to dress in green and drink and be merry... here’s a little history lesson as to why Saint Patrick’s Day is such a huge international holiday.
Interestingly, Saint Patrick was not born in Ireland. He was kidnapped and sold into slavery. He eventually escaped and found his way to Britain and then France to study to become a bishop. After years of training he felt the need to return back to Ireland where he converted the Pagans to Christianity.
There are many legends about Saint Patrick. According to one legend, it is said that the three-leafed shamrock is used to explain the concept of Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He used the power of Trinity to put the curse of God onto snakes, driving them into the sea to drown.
The holiday is celebrated on the day of Saint Patrick’s death, every March 17th. It initially celebrated the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Saint Patrick’s Day is also used to celebrate the Irish heritage and culture as a whole. In 1995, the Irish government allowed drinking that day to increase tourism and to display Irish culture. From a religious perspective, drinking is allowed this day because of the Holiday Lent, which prevents Christians from drinking starting Ash Wednesday for six weeks until Easter Sunday.
The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade was held in the United States, in New York City, in 1762 by Irish soldiers serving in the English military. They marched through New York City to signify their unity and strength. The Saint Patrick’s Day parade is seen as an international celebration allowing the Irish people to continue to express their ethnic identity.
