For many, particularly college students looking for fun, Saint Patrick’s Day is just another holiday; a time and excuse to go out with friends and celebrate an event. But most people do not even realize what they are celebrating.

This holiday, celebrated on March 17, is full of rich history, tradition and symbols. The Irish have celebrated this day for more than a thousand years. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and he is believed to have died on March 17 around 460 A.D. Patrick’s life has always been somewhat of a mystery, but he is undoubtedly a revered figure for the Irish and for the Christian people. Some myths even claim that it was Saint Patrick who first introduced Christianity to Ireland.

This holiday traditionally falls during the Christian season of Lent, so the Irish people would usually attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon and evening. At one point in history the pubs in Ireland were even closed down to show respect for the Christian holiday. Later and despite the Lenten rules, an exception was made on Saint Patrick’s Day and people would eat, the traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage, drink and dance.

The first parade to celebrate the holiday ironically took place in New York City in 1762, with Irish soldiers serving in the military marching through the streets. After the Irish potato famine in 1845, close to 1 million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics came to the United States. The holiday became a time to recognize the hardships that Irish immigrants had gone through and their accomplishments over the years. They endured stereotypes and political inequality, so the parades and celebrations embody a sense of accomplishment and success for many Irish. Irish patriotism flourished in the United States from this point on.

Today the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in New York City is the world’s oldest civilian parade and has over 150,000 participants. Boston, Savannah, Philadelphia and Chicago also celebrate this holiday in style with parades including 10,000-20,000 participants. The city of Chicago even goes so far as to dye the Chicago River green!

Ireland does not overlook the tradition and history of Saint Patrick’s Day, but it does recognize the potential for increased tourism and revenue for Ireland. Last year over 1 million people participated in Dublin’s celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day, which features parades, fireworks, concerts and outdoor theatre productions.

There are also many symbols associated with the holiday. The shamrock was a special plant to the Celts because it symbolized the re-birth of spring. It soon became a symbol of Irish nationalism. Music and food are also key elements to the celebration. Cabbage and corned beef are traditional dishes that everyone should try. The leprechaun, is a purely American innovation to the holiday, but nonetheless has also become a recognizable symbol for the mischief that goes on during the holiday.

Whatever your ancestry is, Saint Patrick’s Day can be a celebration that everyone can enjoy. Tee Patterson, a senior at Auburn University and of Irish descent, is excited about his Saint Patrick’s Day plans.

“ I am going to go out with my friends over the break to celebrate the holiday. I think it’s a fun time where a mixture of different cultures and people all come out to enjoy the same thing,” said Patterson.


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