The origins of St. Patty’s day

Yesterday marked the honored tradition of drinking green beer, dressing up as a leprechaun, and loving all things “Irish”, but the real story behind the man of March is often forgotten.

St. Patty’s day is mostly known in the United States as the holiday in which we dedicate March 17 to Saint Patrick. Seen as a celebration dedicated to Irish Americans, on this day we honor their heritage and achievements, it is also seen by some as a day where drinking copious amounts of alcohol is encouraged.

Though this holiday has evolved into a day in which mainly college students have a party of a lifetime, the emergence of this holiday in North America traces its roots back to the Irish Diaspora of the 18th and 19th centuries. During that time period many Irish immigrants made their way to the shores of the their new home, the continental United States, bringing with them their language, religion, and culture.

Though the mainstream holiday dedicated to Saint Patrick has lost most of its roots in America, it is still celebrated all around the world with the intention of paying homage and celebrating the man behind the holiday.

Saint Patrick was born in England in 385 AD and was taken to Ireland by pirates when he was 16 years old according to legend. He escaped captivity after being enslaved for six years and returned to his family.

Years later Patrick returned to Ireland, this time a member of the clergy, and began a campaign to convert the pagan Irish tribes to Christianity eventually becoming a bishop within the church. As the legend goes he spent many years evangelising in the northern half of Ireland and converted "thousands", this led to his celebrity within Christianity. His aggressive campaign against the Druid, class of Celtic people, led to the saying that St. Patrick drove the snakes (Druids) out of Ireland.

Today St. Patrick's Day celebrations have been greatly influenced by those that developed among the Irish diaspora, especially in North America. Many traditions associated with celebration that occurs every year on the day St. Patrick died developed over the centuries, so when you take the last sip of your green beer while eating Irish cuisine and talking about the “luck of the Irish” try to remember the man that this holiday is based on.