St. Patrick's Day, also known as St. Patrick's Day, is an Irish national holiday celebrated on March 17 every year. On this day, we remember the life and legacy of Saint Patrick, who is known as the patron saint of Ireland. In this article, we will explore the history and traditions associated with St. Patrick's Day, including who celebrates it, what foods are eaten, and what customs are observed.
When is St. Patrick's Day? Saint Patrick's Day is not only celebrated on Ireland, but also elsewhere in the world, especially in countries with large Irish populations. The holiday has become a symbol of Irish culture and heritage, and is often associated with green color, shamrocks and gnomes.
When is St. Patrick's Day?
The beginnings of the holiday date back to the early 17th century, when the Catholic Church established the day of St. Patrick as a holiday in honor of the protector of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary who is credited with converting the pagan Irish to Christianity. He lived in Ireland in the 5th century AD and is said to have used the shamrock, a plant with three leaves, to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish.
Traditional customs on St. Patrick's Day
One of the most prominent traditions associated with St. Patrick's Day is St. Patrick's Day Parade, that is every year on March 17th, has been held in Dublin, Ireland since 1931. The parade includes floats, marchers and dancers and attracts a large crowd of spectators from all over the world. Other cities with large Irish populations have also hosted the parade, including New York, Boston and Chicago.
Another popular custom associated with St. Patrick's Day is feasting traditional Irish food, such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and colcannon, a mashed potato and cabbage dish. Corned beef and cabbage became associated with the holiday in the United States in the 19th century, when Irish immigrants, who were often poor, used corned beef as a substitute for the traditional Irish dish of bacon and cabbage, which they could not afford.
In addition to the parade and food, other customs associated with St. Patrick's Day include wearing green clothing, drinking Guinness or other Irish beer, and listening to traditional Irish music.
A must-have for celebrating St. Patrick's Day
Last Updated 2024-11-08 / Affiliate Links / Photo Source: Amazon Product Advertising API
