St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday traditionally held on March 17, is easily on the list of “more peculiar holidays.” Over the years the holiday has been celebrated by many in America, from a Grand Parade in New York City, to dyeing the Chicago River green. There has been so much care put into this holiday that we have to ask, where did this celebration come from?
History of St. Patrick’s Day
On St. Patrick’s Day we celebrate St. Patrick, who is said to be one of the first people to bring Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Much like St. Valentine who lived in Italy during the third century, not much is known about him.
Patrick was born in Roman Britain and then brought into the Ireland, and was then sold as a slave at age sixteen. After six years Patrick escaped and went home to Britain where he was ordained a priest. Several years later he said he had a vision calling him to return to Ireland to teach Christianity as a missionary. In his lessons to the pagan Irish he would explain the Holy Trinity, symbolized by a three-leaf clover.
It wasn’t until centuries later that four-leaf clovers were associated with good luck. For those of you who might doubt their existence, they can in fact be found in this area. If you manage to find one four leaf clover take a closer look at where you found it, and there will likely be more around it. A 2017 study showed that about one in 5,000 clovers will have four leaves.
Celebrating the Holiday in America
When Irish immigrants moved to the Americas they brought their traditions with them, most of whom celebrated back at home with cabbage and Irish bacon. Once in America most could not afford bacon, substituting it with corn beef instead. Early immigrants had difficulty applying for jobs, because of religious differences between Catholics and the well-established Protestants.
In a way this celebration was a declaration of independence for Irish immigrants as their numbers grew. They became strong enough in some cities that they became their own voting block, such as in Chicago, where their voting presence was nicknamed the “Green Machine.” While that may have been one of the few reasons why we wear green, throughout Ireland’s history there have been many instances where green was a symbol of their independence.
Why the Pinching and Leprechauns?
Then there is the tradition of pinching. I don’t like to be pinched! But according to legend it was considered unlucky to be seen on St. Patrick’s Day without wearing green and those who were not wearing green could be pinched by a leprechaun. Very scary! So in order to avoid this, we all pinch each other to warn everyone to get some green on before the leprechauns come.
Speaking of leprechauns, you’re probably wondering what role they play in this holiday. There isn’t much. Since the leprechauns have their own holiday on May 13, it could be assumed that America pretty much combined the two holidays.
Whatever your traditions, whether it’s making green eggs and ham in the morning, or being pinched twenty-dozen times because you forgot to wear green, or going to see the gigantic parade or the river turning green — no matter the case, I wish you all a green holiday!
– by Ella Hughes (18) Panguitch
Feature image caption: A sneaky leprechaun paints Artorius’s nails green. Courtesy Artorius G. (13) Escalante.
Ella Hughes – Panguitch
Ella Hughes is a junior journalist and editor at The Byway. She has recently graduated from Panguitch High School and has written for The Byway for two years now. Her favorite topics to write about are history as well as present-day local events. In her free time she enjoys singing, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with her family she adores.
Ella is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is serving in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.