St. Patrick’s Day: Erin Go Bragh

That special time is fast approaching again, the time when we all don green (whether we are of the actual heritage or not), clip on those three-leaf clovers, the derby shades and go drink a pint (also in green), and, if we’re lucky take part in a parade. Are you ready?

The interesting thing about St. Patrick’s Day (or St. Paddy’s Day, as known informally) attracts and involves people from all over the world, whether actually of Irish descent or not. It has become respected not only for its cultural heritage, but its grand colorful display as well, much like Christmas and New Year. This endearing and rambunctious holiday is even celebrated in South America and as far away as the orient (a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Japan? One cannot help but wonder what THAT must be like). This touch of the Gaelic culture and its traditions apparently has no bounds.

As for the famous parade, which draws millions of people every single year, this event has manifested in a variety of forms since the nineteenth century, and not only in Ireland; such pastimes have taken root in one form or another in New Zealand, England, Canada, Argentina, Japan, Korea, Australia, Montserrat, and, of course, the United States, where the greatest number of parades is traditionally conducted in a single country, from New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in the northeast; to as far as Savannah, Georgia and Tallahassee, Florida in the Southeast; to Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and San Francisco in the Midwest and far west. The parade has become a staple of cultural celebrations throughout the entire region of North America; the United States and Canada would not be alive without it.

But how did this holiday come to be? you may ask. Believe it or not, the holiday’s antiquated roots extend back to a point before the middle ages and during the spread of Christianity.

Interesting enough, Saint Patrick wasn’t even of Irish descent; he was born to an affluent Roman-British family in the 4th century, during which time the Roman Empire had authoritative control over Europe. At 16, Patrick was absconded into slavery and believed to have been taken to some still-unspecified place in western Ireland where he learned first hand the toils and struggles through which many there had been living. He was supposedly directed by God to escape his captors and flee back to Great Britain. He did so successfully and joined the Auxerre in Gaul (modern-day France) where he eventually became a Catholic priest. Ironically, his calling drew him back to Ireland where his teachings introduced the Irish to Christianity. In this sense, Patrick saved the country and led its people into a richer and more promising light. Despite the many other more successful missions there, he was held in most esteem, most likely for his passion and dedication to both the Catholic Church and to the people of Ireland. For this reason, he has come to be Ireland’s Patron Saint and champion of Irish Christianity.

The three-leafed clover, or shamrock, served several significant purposes in the evolution of the holiday. First, this was the means of how Patrick instilled the concept of the Holy Divine Trinity (three separate leaves yet one clover). Secondly, the shamrock became one of Ireland’s holy symbols (it is in the corner of the St. Patrick’s Day flag). Lastly, sometime during the early-seventeenth century, the color of the shamrock changed the holiday’s official color from blue to green when the phrase “wear green” took hold and referred to the tradition whereby all celebrants were to wear a shamrock somewhere on their person. Even today, those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, whether Irish or not, wear green clothes and a shamrock to boost the level of religious and cultural significance inherent in the holiday.

So if one is planning on attending at parades or pub celebrations this year, no matter one’s true heritage, one should not forget to don something green—including the might shamrock—and drink a pint or two of ale (preferably green. On the other hand ALL ale will likely be green on St. Patrick’s Day), and, perhaps, say a prayer or two out of respect, spiritual recognition, and thanks and appreciation for St. Patrick and his commitment to a people and his faith. He is deemed one of history’s universal heroes for his diligence and his sacrifices.

Erin Go Bragh!