St. Patrick’s Day: Facts, Meaning & History

March has the most important holidays for the Irish community in the country and worldwide. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, March 17–Ireland’s Independence Day. It is a religious holiday in Ireland that has been celebrated for over a thousand years. This is also the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death in the fifth century to commemorate the patron saint of this country. Throughout the week, many cultural activities occur not only in Ireland but all over the world, where there is a large Irish community, especially in the Northeastern region of the Americas. Let’s find out interesting things about this unique festival of the land of Clover!

The Origins Of Saint Patrick

1. Who Was St. Patrick?

Saint Patrick, whose real name is Patricius Magonus Sucatus. He was born around 389 in an English family of Roman origin. At 16, while living in Wales, he was enslaved by pirates and sold to a landowner in Ireland. Six years later, he escaped and began his career as a Christian by studying for 12 years. Saint Patrick became a priest in 417; in 432 was ordained a bishop by the Pope and sent to Ireland, where he is credited with introducing Christianity to the locals.

At that time, the Irish religion was run by shamans, and rituals were considered pagan. Therefore, he was arrested many times for many years traveling throughout Ireland to preach, build churches, and have a strong belief in God. Still, later, he eventually escaped continuing his work. He died on March 17, 461, at Downpatrick, at the age of 72. His dedication to the religions was honored by the Irish and recognized by the Church. He was canonized, and Ireland chose the day he passed away – March 17 – as a national holiday: St. Patrick’s Day.

2. Interesting Facts about St. Patrick 

Saint Patrick used to have a dark secret. St. Patrick saw his missionary work in Ireland as an act of penance for a sin he committed as a young man. He was often imprisoned for traveling the country preaching the gospel, but that never deterred him. Someone had told the other bishops about his past mistakes, he said in his writing. Finally, after thirty years, they used a confession of mine against me: a few of the things I did in a single day—or, more accurately, a single hour—when I was a young man,” Patrick wrote.

He never gave any details about the act, leaving us to speculate about his possible misdeeds as a youth. But that only adds to his charisma; it’s nice to know that not even Saints are without flaws.

Patrick was plagued by apparitions and voices. It is said that Patrick prayed to God while he was tending sheep in Co. Antrim. A voice told him, “Your ship is ready!” his faith grew stronger, and he began to experience other supernatural phenomena. Time to make his break, he realized.

After returning to safety, he was contacted by an angel who asked him to rescue the people of Ireland again. He said she pleaded with him, “Holy Boy, come and walk again among us.”

3. St. Patrick’s Three-leaf clover – The Symbol of Hope and Wish

It is said that when preaching, Saint Patrick often used the three leaves of a native Irish clover to explain the meaning of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). That’s why we can see the image of clover everywhere when coming to Ireland. In addition, for the Irish people, clover also means fortune. People paint St Patrick’s Day clover on their faces, clothes, and objects. Everything is about clover. Green also became the symbolic color for the Emerald island. In the Irish language, the phrase “wearing of the green” became very popular, which expresses the Irish spirit: “Irish green” and clover have become a unique cultural imprint, the symbol of Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day around the world.

The First St. Patrick’s Day in History 

St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated by the Irish in the 10th century, but it wasn’t until 1631 that it was declared a national holiday. You will be surprised when knowing that the first St. Patrick’s Day parades were held in the United States, not Ireland. On March 17, 1601, a Spanish colony in the area that is now St. Augustine, Florida, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a parade.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City took place in 1762.

Irish soldiers serving in the British army marched down the streets of New York in 1762. Despite being far from home, the parade helped them feel connected to their Irish roots, and it quickly became a tradition.

The Growth of St. Patrick’s Day Throughout the History 

The modern-day celebration of St. Patrick’s Day began in the 1700s. Time reports that the holiday was originally seen as a way to relieve the strict discipline of the weeks leading up to Easter.

Growing numbers of Irish immigrants flourish St. Patrick’s Day parades and parties across the United States.

The Protestant majority in the United States despised the immigrants for their foreign religions and dialects, making it difficult for Irish people to find even low-paying work. Newspaper cartoonists caricatured Irish Americans who celebrated their culture by taking to the streets on St. Patrick’s Day as drunk, violent apes.

But everything is getting better in the early 1900s. According to historians, Irish Americans’ rise to prominence as a voting bloc in the United States helped shift public opinion in their favor. And as a positive sign, President Truman marched in the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1948.

In 1991, the United States declared March as Irish American Heritage Month.

Because of its proximity to St. Patrick’s Day, March was chosen as Irish American Heritage Month. In the United States, the official recognition only added to the excitement of the holiday celebrations.

In the twentieth century, the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day began to be celebrated for many reasons other than religion in Ireland.

But for now, St. Patrick’s Day is widely recognized and celebrated in many countries in the world.

Festivities Honoring St. Patrick’s Day in Different Parts of the World