When people think of St. Patrick's Day, images of rowing boats in green rivers, drinking green beer, and drunken jig dancing leprechauns fill the imaginations of millions. T-Shirts, beer steins, blinking buttons, and cheap plastic necklaces all shout, "Kiss Me I'm Irish!" from store shelves. Parties are held at almost every bar in town, but why? Ask any number of people what the meaning of St. Patrick's Day is, and most people won't be able to tell you. When I told my brother that we had Irish blood running through our veins, he didn't believe me, "because," he said, "we don't have pointy ears." While most people aren't able to distinctly tell you the reason for the celebration, or even what it means to be Irish, most will agree that St. Patrick's Day is here to stay. Used as an excuse for binge drinking and carousing, St. Patrick's Day is first and foremost a religious feast day that has been observed on March 17th for hundreds of years.
Not much is known about the real St. Patrick. Most of what is thought to be general knowledge is actually comprised of exaggerations produced by hundreds of years of oral tradition. For example: contrary to popular belief, he did not banish all snakes from Ireland. Patrick is believed to have been born to wealthy parents in fourth century Britain. It is known that his father was a deacon, but the family wasn't deeply religious. Many men of the time joined the church as a way to receive a tax incentive. When Patrick was sixteen, his family's estate fell victim to Irish raiders. He was kidnapped, brought to Ireland, and held for six years. He was isolated and kept as a shepherd, and it was there that he decided to convert the Irish.
In his writings, Patrick tells of a dream in which God tells him it is time to return home. Once home, he has another vision in which an angel told him to convert the Irish. After training for fifteen years, Patrick returned to Ireland, not only to convert the pagans, but also to minister to the few Christians that were already there. He took a different approach than most missionaries of his day. Instead of banishing all traditions and replacing them, Patrick sought to incorporate some of their rites into the Christian tradition. One example is that of the Celtic cross. It is the incorporation of the sun into the Christian cross. In another instance, Patrick, knowing how find the Irish were of bonfires in nature celebrations, added a bonfire to the Easter celebration.
So after all of his hard work, how did St. Patrick's Day turn into the green free-for-all that it is today? The green beer, leprechauns, and shamrocks are essentially the Americanized version of the holiday. The first St. Patrick's Day parade actually took place in New York City in in 1762. During and well after the Revolutionary War, Protestant Irishmen were valuable members of society and Irish Aid groups sprang up in many communities; however, this wouldn't last.
During the Irish Potato Famine, boats brought immigrants to the US by the thousands. These newly arrived Irish weren't so well received by American citizens. Mocked because of their funny accents and their seemingly alien Catholic beliefs, they were given second-rate status and were caricatured as drunk, unintelligent, and violent. Not until President Truman (an Irish descendant himself) attended a New York City parade, did the Irish begin to see the acceptance that their relatives fought so hard for. New York City is home to the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the U.S. Not coincidentally, it is also the oldest civilian parade in the world. This is the result of the work of several Irish aid societies. In 1848 these societies merged their parades into one mile-and-a-half long route which is still used to this day.
While parades and jovial celebrations have long been a St. Patrick's Day tradition, there are certain elements that are fairly new. Leprechauns have been a part of Irish folklore for centuries. Tales of cranky little men and women who used their magical powers for mischief have long been a part of their oral tradition. However, not until Walt Disney released Darby O'Gill & Little People did the Leprechaun become a popular part of Irish American celebrations. Shamrocks were originally an Irish symbol of rebirth. When repression by the English became too fervent it became the Irish symbol of pride. It is now a sign of nationalism.
Whether you prefer a reserved religious feast or a raucous parade, St. Patrick's Day is sure to have something for you. On St. Patrick's Day, the Irish aren't just celebrating their national saint. They are also celebrating their history, heritage, and lives. After all, they are a fun loving people, and if for only one day a year, you can be too.
