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MARCH 15, 2007
Saint Patrick's Day Celebrations Have True Meaning
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By Toby McClary
It will soon be Saint Patrick's
Day and for some of you that
means wearing green (to avoid
being pinched), drinking green
beverages, and eating shamrock-shaped
cookies with green
frosting. But for the deep
rooted, Ireland-born Irish, the
reason for celebration is much
more spiritual and religious.
The Irish celebrate the name
of Saint Patrick and the re
ligious icon that he became.
Saint Patrick is believed to
have been born in Britain
sometime in the late fourth
century. At the age of 16,
Patrick was taken prisoner by
a group of Irish raiders that
were attacking his family's
estate. He was transported
to Ireland where he spent six
years in captivity. During his
captivity, Patrick worked as a
shepherd and was not allowed
to be around people. He geared
his focus strongly towards his
religion and became a devout
Christian. Saint Patrick later
became the patron saint and
national apostle of Ireland and
is credited for bringing Chris
tianity to Ireland. He is also
known for driving the snakes
from Ireland. And that is a
fact; there really are no snakes
in Ireland.
Saint Patrick's Day, to those
who celebrate its intended
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meaning, is a traditional day of re
newal and an offering of prayer for
missionaries worldwide. Until the
1970s, Irish laws mandated
that pubs be closed on
March 17, but begin
ning in 1995, the Irish
government began a
national campaign
to use Saint Patrick's
Day as an opportuni
ty to drive tourism and
showcase Ireland to
the rest of the world.
Today, Saint Patrick's
Day is celebrated an
nually in the United
States, Canada and
Australia. Although
North America is
known for the larg-
est celebra
tions, Japan,
Singapore
and Russia
have also
been known
to wear a
little green
and pinch
those who
don't.
It is believed that Saint
Patrick died on March 17, 460
A.D., which marks the day for
his celebration. The holiday
began in Ireland and as the Irish
have spread out around the world,
they have carried their history and
their celebrations with them. Saint
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Patrick's Day is also a very big deal
in American cities that have a large
Irish
pop-
ulation. From the
small- est to the largest of
American cities, Saint Patrick's Day
is celebrated each year with parades,
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the "wearing of green," music,
Irish food, and drink among
other Irish-rooted activities.
The biggest of the Saint
Patrick's Day celebrations is
held unsurprisingly in Dublin,
Ireland. It is a five-day festi
val and in 2006, there were
more than 500,000 people in
attendance for the parade.
The largest of the Saint
Patrick's Day parades;
however, is held in
New York City and
is watched by more
than 2 million specta
tors annually. The first
ever Saint Patrick's Day
Parade was held in Bos
ton, Massachusetts in 1737.
When people think of Saint
Patrick's Day, shamrocks, lep
rechauns, and the color green
come to mind, but one little
known fact is that orange and
blue were once the symbol
colors of this day.
So on Saturday, March
1 7, while you are wearing
your shamrocks, drinking
your favorite green-colored
blended beverage,
or trying to avoid being
pinched, don't forget to raise a
toast to good ole Saint Patrick
himself.
Graphic Created
by George Vaidez
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