Or for those of you not versed in Gaelic - Happy St. Patrick's Day! For many, this holiday is much like another New Year's Eve: the revelry, the camaraderie and oh, yes, the drinking. Many partake in these festivities whether or not they are Irish (hey, only some of us can be perfect the rest of the year) and everyone has a grand old time.
However, have you ever wondered about the history behind St. Patrick's Day celebrations and customs?
St. Patrick's Day began as a Catholic holiday and is actually an official feast day. Over the years, the holiday has evolved into one of secular nature and serves as a celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
St. Patrick's Day is in honor of St. Patrick (duh!), a native Brit who was kidnapped by the Irish and taken to Ireland as a slave. At some point, he fled from captivity and returned to Britain. Upon his return, he studied to be a priest and was "called" to Ireland to convert them. Thus, St. Patrick was responsible for introducing Catholicism to the Irish or as they say "chasing the snakes out of Ireland" (and you wondered how Lakefront Brewery came up with the name Snake Chaser for their tasty Irish Stout). According to folklore, he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). As a result, the shamrock continues to be a prominent of St. Patrick's Day celebrations today.
As the Irish immigrated to the USA, St. Patrick's Day observances moved from a religious to a political nature. The first known observance (known as a parade) was in Boston in 1737. Irish immigrant workers marched to make a political statement about how they were not happy with their low social status and their inability to obtain jobs in America. New York City began its observance of the holiday in 1766 with a parade (which started at a tavern) in protest of the unfair treatment of the Irish immigrants. NYC continues to have the largest parade and celebration of St. Patrick's Day outside of Ireland, and it is likely not political in nature. Almost 300 years later, most major cities with historical Irish ancestry also stage parades in celebration; Chicago even dyes the Chicago River green for the festivities.
Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in the US by bloody everyone (Irish or not) by the wearing green-colored clothing and accessories (i.e. boas, funky ass hats). Traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched affectionately. If you are pinched for not wearing green, you have my permission to kick them in the "lucky charms". If you are wearing a traditional kilt, you can pinch or kick anyone you want...and look authentic doing it (regardless of ancestry).
Another modern-day tradition includes hitting local pubs, taverns and bars (again, Irish or not...in reference to the watering hole and the revelers) at 6 am on St. Patrick's day for free swag and libations (which should include a shot of Jameson). And in the States you'll hear a lot of U2 played. At least in Toronto they'll also play the Cranberries, the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. "Drunken Lullabies" seems appropriate at about midnight on a day like this.
And why the green? The color originally associated with St. Patrick was blue. However, green is one of the colors on the Irish flag. And that little shamrock has something to do with it as well.
But please, don't drink the green beer. It's an abomination of the holiday. Really. Try a Guinness or Harp.
♣ Sláinte! ♣
St. Patrick's Day is in honor of St. Patrick (duh!), a native Brit who was kidnapped by the Irish and taken to Ireland as a slave. At some point, he fled from captivity and returned to Britain. Upon his return, he studied to be a priest and was "called" to Ireland to convert them. Thus, St. Patrick was responsible for introducing Catholicism to the Irish or as they say "chasing the snakes out of Ireland" (and you wondered how Lakefront Brewery came up with the name Snake Chaser for their tasty Irish Stout). According to folklore, he used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). As a result, the shamrock continues to be a prominent of St. Patrick's Day celebrations today.
As the Irish immigrated to the USA, St. Patrick's Day observances moved from a religious to a political nature. The first known observance (known as a parade) was in Boston in 1737. Irish immigrant workers marched to make a political statement about how they were not happy with their low social status and their inability to obtain jobs in America. New York City began its observance of the holiday in 1766 with a parade (which started at a tavern) in protest of the unfair treatment of the Irish immigrants. NYC continues to have the largest parade and celebration of St. Patrick's Day outside of Ireland, and it is likely not political in nature. Almost 300 years later, most major cities with historical Irish ancestry also stage parades in celebration; Chicago even dyes the Chicago River green for the festivities.
Today, Saint Patrick's Day is widely celebrated in the US by bloody everyone (Irish or not) by the wearing green-colored clothing and accessories (i.e. boas, funky ass hats). Traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched affectionately. If you are pinched for not wearing green, you have my permission to kick them in the "lucky charms". If you are wearing a traditional kilt, you can pinch or kick anyone you want...and look authentic doing it (regardless of ancestry).
Another modern-day tradition includes hitting local pubs, taverns and bars (again, Irish or not...in reference to the watering hole and the revelers) at 6 am on St. Patrick's day for free swag and libations (which should include a shot of Jameson). And in the States you'll hear a lot of U2 played. At least in Toronto they'll also play the Cranberries, the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. "Drunken Lullabies" seems appropriate at about midnight on a day like this.
And why the green? The color originally associated with St. Patrick was blue. However, green is one of the colors on the Irish flag. And that little shamrock has something to do with it as well.
But please, don't drink the green beer. It's an abomination of the holiday. Really. Try a Guinness or Harp.
♣ Sláinte! ♣
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