Every year, people across the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. For some, the day is a time to honor those of Irish heritage, and for others, it is an excuse to enjoy a glass of Guinness with good friends. From wearing green to hunting leprechauns to find pots of gold, the traditions that surround the day are fun for all. Here at Northwood, students celebrated the holiday this year in a number of different ways.
“My mom spent most of the day preparing corned beef and potatoes,” said Henry Myers, a junior. “We had a big family dinner.” Henry was not the only one who enjoyed special food to celebrate.
“I went to McDonald’s and got a Shamrock Shake,” said Garrison Parrish, a senior, “It was a regular size, it was very delicious, I like the mint and the green in it. I think it is very representative of Irish culture.”
Whether or not a milkshake is truly representative of Irish culture, why is the color green associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and the Irish culture at large? The reason that green became the dominant color of the holiday is due to the hue of the shamrock, which serves as a symbol of Ireland. The origin of the plant’s symbolism comes from St. Patrick’s use of a shamrock as a metaphor for the holy trinity, or the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Since the shamrock represents Ireland, so does the color green by association. In Chicago, the river is colored green every year, and cities across the world hold parades filled with green floats and costumes, such as New York and Boston.
“I went to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wilmington,” said Charlotte vanAssen, a senior. Wilmington is only one of many cities in North Carolina that hold parades for the holiday, including Raleigh and Charlotte.
Many have heard the name “Saint Patrick”, but who was this man? Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, is the patron saint of Ireland, meaning that he is the protecting or guiding saint of the country. While few hard facts exist surrounding St. Patrick’s life, he is credited with bringing Christianity to the island nation. Many have heard the fable of St. Patrick “driving the snakes out of Ireland” and improving the quality of life for the people living there. This story is popular when recounting the story of the saint, but in fact, there have never been any recorded sightings of snakes in Ireland. Historians believe that the story came about as a metaphor for St. Patrick removing the traditional pagan religion of the Gaelic Irish and replacing it with Christianity, with the “snakes” in the story actually being druids that were driven out of Ireland. The day itself, March 17th, was chosen, as it is the rumored date of St. Patrick’s death.
There are many fantastical stories surrounding St. Patrick. One of these stories involves St. Patrick traveling across the Irish countryside, speaking to individual towns, trying to convince people that the Christian faith was divine truth. In the tale, St. Patrick planted his walking stick into the ground and kept it there until the people around him converted to Christianity. In the town of Aspatria, his message took so long to take effect with the people that his stick grew roots and became a tree.
One very popular tradition of St. Patrick Day for those of age is drinking beer. While some may assume this had to do with the stereotype of the Irish people being heavy drinkers, the true cause is rooted in religion. At the time that St. Patrick’s Day began as a Christian holiday, there was a Lenten ban on the consumption of alcohol. However, once the holiday became official, this ban was lifted for the duration of the day, meaning that all practicing this Lenten custom could drink. This solidified the holiday as a time to enjoy alcoholic beverages, and the tradition has continued into the twenty-first century.
St. Patrick’s day is celebrated across the world, from Ireland to the rest of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In all places it is celebrated, it serves as a time to celebrate a notable saint, and most importantly, to recognize those of Irish heritage who live in countries spanning the globe.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “St. Patrick’s Day.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Apr. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day.
-Henry Taylor
