By: BHS Features Staff
March 12, 2025
Many people (Irish or not) celebrate St. Patrick’s Day every year on March 17, the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century.
For over 1,000 years, the Irish have celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as a religious holiday. Many families attended church in the early morning and danced during the evening, along with partaking in traditional feasts.
Saint Patrick lived in the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland, and is the national apostle. St. Patrick was born in Britain, but he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He escaped from his enslavement and returned to Ireland. Upon his return, he was credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish.
Centuries following his death, which was believed to be on March 17, the myth surrounding his life was ingrained in Irish culture. The most well-known is the Legend of St. Patrick in which he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the native Irish clover, otherwise known as the shamrock.
St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated during the ninth century, and the holiday was observed as a religious feast. The first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was recorded in 1601.
The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day eventually flourished in the United States. Irish patriotism prompted the rise of “Irish Aid” societies such as Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. These groups held annual parades, featuring bagpipes and drums.
In 1851, several of New York’s Irish Aid societies merged their parades into one big parade. This became the official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade is still going on to this day as the oldest and largest civilian parade in the U.S.
The parade brings in three million people each year with 150 thousand participants. Boston and Chicago are other cities that host big parades, too.
Many people of different backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Although America may have many people who celebrate, it is celebrated worldwide. Many eat Irish soda bread, corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes in locations further away from Ireland.
In the mid-1990s, the Irish government thought that St. Patrick’s Day would be a great opportunity to allow tourists to experience Irish culture in Ireland.
So, how did the leprechaun originate?
The original Irish name for leprechaun is luchorpán, which is thought to mean a small-bodied fellow (This could explain Notre Dame’s football team.). Leprechauns were believed to stem from Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women who were magical and used their powers for good or for evil. In folktales, leprechauns were told as cranky souls who were responsible for mending shoes for other fairies. Although they are minor figures in Celtic folklore, leprechauns were known for being mischievous and protective of their fabled treasure.
Whatever your background may be, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is a lot of fun. Just wearing green or seeing the Chicago River dyed green is a great way to celebrate.
Of course, a good corned beef sandwich doesn’t hurt either.
{Information for this article is sourced from The History Channel.}
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 