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The History of St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day has become aPatrick's Cathedral stands in Manhattan
celebration of all things Irish. Mostas a majestic reminder of the history of
public celebrations include quite largeIrish people in New York City.
quantities of alcohol. Many familiesAs America grew, so did its Irish
serve corned beef, cabbage, and mintpopulation. Throughout the late 18th
chocolate pies every year on March 17th.century, Irish Aid societies like the
And some cities like Chicago turn largeFriendly Sons of Saint Patrick would
bodies of water green to commemorate thehold annual parades celebrating St.
life of St. Patrick.Patrick's Day. These parades came to
"But who was St. Patrick" St. Patrick isinclude bagpipes and drums, even though
the patron saint of Ireland and is onebagpipes were known more as a Scottish
of the most celebrated figures in moderncustom than Irish.
Christianity. He was born to BritishWhen the Great Potato Famine hit in
aristocrats in the late fourth century;1845, almost a million poor Irishmen
as in most aristocratic families at thatstreamed into America. Unlike their
time, Patrick as a later son wasmiddle-class Protestant predecessors,
destined for the priesthood in order tothese immigrants were Catholic and often
bring tax incentives to his wealthyuneducated. They found great difficulty
family. When he was 16 years old, he wasin finding work, and were ridiculed in
captured by Irish raiders and held forpublic and in the press as drunken
six years. During this time, he becamemonkeys with undecipherable accents.
much more spiritual as he was a lonelyDuring this time, St. Patrick's Day
shepherd and required his faith to keepcelebrations grew decidedly more
him strong.subdued.
After six years in County Mayo, PatrickBy the early 20th century; however, the
heard a voice, that he believed to beIrish population in the United States
God's, telling him to leave Ireland (ascame to realize that they were large in
was indicated in his writings many yearsnumber and thus had voting power. They
later). He walked hundreds of miles tobegan to court public opinion and became
the coast where he was able to escape toquite a political machine. When Harry S.
Britain. He was then ordained into theTruman attended the New York City St.
priesthood. He returned to Ireland as aPatrick's Day parade in 1948, many
priest, as the majority of Irish were atIrish-Americans knew that they were at
that time Pagan.last an accepted part of American
Patrick's time in captivity in Irelandculture.
had influenced him greatly and heIn Ireland itself, St. Patrick's Day was
brought many Irish customs to histraditionally a religious holiday. In
parishioners. He began celebratingfact, until the mid-1970's, Irish law
Easter with a large bonfire, followingdictated that all pubs and bars had to
the Irish practice of honoring theirbe closed. By 1995; however, the Irish
gods with fire. And he created thegovernment began to use St. Patrick's
Celtic Cross by superimposing the imageDay as a driver for tourism as people
of a sun onto the cross. St. Patrickall over the world clamored for all
died in 460 AD, and it is largelythings Irish. St. Patrick's Festival in
believed that he died on March 17th.Dublin now draws over 1 million people
As time went on, St. Patrick's legendin a multi-day celebration with parades,
grew throughout the United Kingdom andconcerts, and fireworks.
particularly in Ireland. He became aIn homes throughout the world, St.
figure that was larger than life, and itPatrick's Day is celebrated without
is believed he completed manyalcoholic excess. Many Irish Catholic
near-impossible feats, including thefamilies celebrate with a day of
driving out of the snakes andprayers. Families cook the traditional
abolishment of the Druids at Tara. HisIrish feast of corned beef (also known
influence on everything Christian inas Irish bacon), cabbage, and soda
Ireland; however, is unmistakable. Hebread. Many of these families end the
can be singularly credited for spreadingnight with some coffee with Irish
Christianity throughout all of Ireland.crème, and a chocolate pie or cake
The first St. Patrick's Day wasliberally saturated with mint flavoring.
celebrated in New York City on March 17,These traditions are passed from
1762. Irish soldiers serving in thegeneration to generation, and are
British Army in the American Coloniesrevered as much as if not more so than
marched through the streets of New Yorkthe alcoholic debauchery that is known
to celebrate their Irish homeland fromso well.
which they had long since been away. St.



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