The Truth Behind St. Patrick's Day

    As the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has long been a tradition of pride and celebration among Irish citizens and Irish Americans alike. However, while many people know the basics of the holiday - green beer, corned beef and cabbage, shamrocks - not everyone knows how St. Patrick's Day came to be, who Saint Patrick was, or where its pagan roots come from. Here are some things you might not have known about St. Patrick's Day that we're sure will surprise you!

What Is St. Patricks Day

    St. Patricks Day is a holiday that honors Saint Patrick, a fifth-century Christian missionary who worked to spread Christianity in Ireland and drove out pagan practices in favor of Christianity. Since 1762, Irish nationalists have used March 17 as an opportunity to display their culture and celebrate their history on par with those of other cultures from around the world through wearing green hats and clothing and holding large parades—many of which have been held in New York City for more than 100 years now. Today, St. Patricks Day has evolved into an all-encompassing celebration—even embraced by non-Irish communities across America—of all things Irish; it’s also one day (among many) when you can drink beer for breakfast! Happy St. Patricks Day! 

Why Do We Celebrate St Patricks Day

    You might be surprised to learn that St Patricks day is celebrated in many places outside of Ireland, including: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and Ireland. Many Irish Catholics fled to these countries after British rule in Ireland began during the late 1600s and early 1700s (English Protestants took over following their defeat of Catholic armies). Why do we celebrate it? If you ask a few hundred people why they like celebrating Saint Paddy’s Day on March 17th each year, you’ll get hundreds of different answers. People say it’s fun because its an excuse to drink green beer or just because everyone likes wearing green clothing for a day. Some may tell you that Saint Patrick is Ireland’s patron saint while others will say he didn't even exist! So what’s behind all the hype surrounding St Patricks Day? Where did it come from anyway? Well today I am going to tell you everything there is to know about how Saint Paddy’s Day came into existence and how one man helped bring new traditions and culture into our lives across America!

Where Does Its Pagan Roots Come From

    Ireland has a rich and complex history, but celebrating St. Patricks Day with parades is just one of many traditions that developed in recent years (in fact, some say it was as recently as 1962). Here’s how to navigate some of its roots—and what you can do to get into a more authentic Irish holiday spirit: Go ahead, wear green: It’s not uncommon for people around the world to dye their clothing green in honor of Saint Patrick; however, green used to be worn in Ireland (and Scotland) during Samhain, which is why leprechaun imagery sometimes features them wearing green hats and coats. In addition, shamrocks have pagan connotations too (the three-leafed plant is said to represent truth and purity), although they're often used today in regard to Saint Patrick himself. Grab a Guinness or five: You don't have to give up your favorite American beer on March 17th. While it might seem like there’s an Irish beer for every occasion, when it comes down to it there are actually only three that are widely available across America: Guinness Draught, Smithwick's Ale and Harp Lager (although Heineken does make Red and White!). There’s no hard rule against drinking other kinds of beers at any time of year though! If you want something traditional opt for Carlsberg lager or cider instead. The point is, while St. Patrick’s Day certainly celebrates Irish heritage, you don't have to follow tradition to enjoy yourself. The best thing about holidays? The ability to celebrate exactly how you please! Enjoy food items traditionally served during Samhain celebrations: Black pudding is most commonly associated with Hallowe'en because of its dark color; however, it can also be served at Christmas since haggis is similar to a sausage. Colcannon made from potatoes and cabbage topped with butter/ cream or boiled then mashed turnips also became popular over time because these items were inexpensive alternatives compared to meat.

Who Is Saint Patrick

    Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. He is known as a patron saint of Ireland, along with Saint Brigid and Saint Columba, and is also venerated by both Anglicans and Catholics in England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, America and elsewhere as part of local Irish Catholic traditions. Tradition holds that he died on March 17th and his feast day is celebrated on that date worldwide. His name comes from two Latin words Patricius which means nobleman or of noble birth. Saint Patrick did not die on St Patricks Day; there are no authentic historical accounts giving enough information to pinpoint an exact date of death for him. The traditional Martyrology gives a date for his death under 19 March but does not attribute it to any specific year so it may have happened later than 461 AD.

Why You Should Wear Green On St Patricks Day.

    If you love beer or are Irish and want to celebrate your heritage, then you’re probably going to wear green on March 17th because of St Patricks Day. But most people don’t know why green is synonymous with Ireland and if you search for a little bit of history, well it might leave you scratching your head as there seems to be no clear winner in terms of whether or not Saint Patrick wore a green shirt! It all started when certain European cultures celebrated Samhain – an ancient pagan festival which was believed to be one of two days when spirits from the afterlife would visit Earth. The other day was Beltane – which actually falls around May 1st nowadays - that marked summer in Europe so it makes sense that they celebrated springtime too by marking off mid-point between winter solstice and summer solstice (or April 21st). So what better way to honor nature at its rebirth than wearing whatever color symbolized new life?

How To Celebrate In Style And Have Fun

    What was once a religious holiday has evolved into one of America’s most celebrated cultural and ethnic events. If you want to celebrate, here are some easy tips for how to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in style! Plan ahead. Whether you live by yourself or with others, make sure that everyone knows that there will be drinking on March 17th—and they shouldn’t expect you to be up early on Sunday morning. Make arrangements for anyone who will need a ride home (or work) after your festivities: don’t leave it up to chance or worse yet - bad decision making! Have Fun!