Can you believe that it’s 2015? Well, believe it or not, it is! And, the year is moving along, quite nicely. It’s not just 2015, we’re almost into the second quarter. That’s right, it’s March. March means Daylight Savings Time, Madness, and good ol’ St. Patrick’s Day. What is the truth behind the legend? Is it all about the color green and shamrocks? If so, why?
Every year on March 17, the date of St. Patrick’s death, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day. What began as a religious day of feasting for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green. So, we’re going to dissect a few of the mainstays of the holiday.
St. Patrick: Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He is attributed with essentially delivering the Irish from idol worship and Paganism. He is also widely known for “driving the snakes out of Ireland.” This has been disputed, questioning if there were ever snakes there. It is thought to be a symbolic achievement as snakes were greatly used in Pagan worship, and he drove out Paganism..
Religious Feast: St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in America in 1737, organized by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston, including a feast and religious service. The feast was a means to connect and celebrate Irish culture as so many had been separated from it. In U.S. celebrations, feasting on the day features traditional Irish food, including corned beef, corned cabbage, coffee, soda bread, potatoes, and shepherd's pie. Many celebrations also hold an Irish breakfast of sausage, black and white pudding, fried eggs, and fried tomatoes.
Leprechauns: The original Irish name for these figures of folklore is “lobaircin,” meaning “small-bodied fellow.” Belief in leprechauns probably stems from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who could use their magical powers to serve good or evil. Many Irish see the leprechaun as an American addition to St. Patty festivities.
Shamrocks: The shamrock is the national flower of Ireland. It became so, due to the importance of St. Patrick and his use of the tri-leafed flower to illustrate the Holy Trinity to the Pagans. Wearing the shamrock on one’s lapel, and then adding it to the last drink of the night, is a custom known as “drowning the shamrock.” This practice is suspected to be the basis for wearing green.
U.S. Popularity: The American appeal is simple. The U.S. is a great melting pot. Irish were among early settlers, as well as a mass explosion of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even if there were only a negligible Irish presence, we love to party. Many states have massive celebrations, including: parades, religious festivals, the wearing of green and of course lots of drinking!
Much of what we know in the U.S. of St. Patrick’s Day is a westernized, watered down version. Many may not know its origins or even care, for that matter. It’s likely that a lot of people think, “I’m not Irish. It’s not my holiday.” Yet, they will still wake up March 17th, and carefully plan their wardrobes around a strategically placed shade of green. Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. It can be our little secret.
~An Irish blessing
