St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day

March 17

The patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, was born about 390 in Roman Britain—scholars disagree as to exactly where—and died around 461. His grandfather was a Christian priest, and his father a deacon and an official of the Roman Empire in Britain. He is said to have been kidnapped at the age of 16 by Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland; he escaped after six years, and received his religious training in continental monasteries. After being consecrated a bishop, he returned to Ireland about 432 as a missionary. The association of St. Patrick with the shamrock stems from his supposed use of its three-part leaf to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to his largely uneducated listeners ( see Trinity Sunday).
St. Patrick's Purgatory has been a famed site of pilgrimage since the early 13th century. It is on Station Island in Lough Derg in County Donegal where St. Patrick had a vision promising that all who came to the sanctuary in penitence and faith would receive an indulgence for their sins. Additionally, if their faith remained strong, they would be allowed a glimpse of the tortures of the damned and the joys of the redeemed.
The Feast of St. Patrick is celebrated by Roman Catholics, the Anglican Communion, and Lutherans on March 17. The day is also popularly celebrated, particularly in the U.S., by "the wearing of the green," with many people of Irish and other extractions wearing some item of green clothing. Parties featuring corned beef and cabbage, and even the drinking of beer dyed green with food coloring are also part of this celebration of Irish heritage.
The St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, which dates back to 1762, is the largest in the United States and a major event for Irish Americans. More than 125,000 marchers participate, stopping at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue for the blessing of the archbishop of New York. In Boston the St. Patrick's Day Parade goes back even farther, to 1737. In fact, during the siege of Boston which forced the British evacuation on March 17, 1776, General George Washington used "Boston" as the day's secret password and "St. Patrick" as the appropriate response ( see Evacuation Day).
See also Reek Sunday and St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah

CONTACTS:
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20540
202-707-5000; fax: 202-707-8366
www.loc.gov

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 210
BkDays-1864, vol. I, p. 382
BkFest-1937, pp. 15, 55
BkHolWrld-1986, Mar 17
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 78
DictWrldRel-1989, p. 563
FestSaintDays-1915, p. 38
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 137
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 207
OxYear-1999, p. 122
RelHolCal-2004, p. 92

Celebration day: Mar 17

Celebrated in: Ireland, Northern Ireland

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St. Patrick's Day (Ireland)

March 17

The observation of St. Patrick's Day is universal but traditionally less frenzied in Ireland than it is in the United States. Instead of the massive parades, rowdy parties, and commercialism of U.S. celebrations, many Irish spend the day attending Mass, wearing sprigs of real shamrock, and hailing each other with the traditional St. Patrick's Day greeting: "Beannacht na feile Padraig oraibh"—"May the blessings of St. Patrick be with you." Since 1996, however, Dublin has hosted a colorful St. Patrick's Festival. It lasts four days and features musical performances, street theater, fireworks, and a grand parade.
Because it falls during Lent, St. Patrick's Day is anticipated as a reprieve from the deprivations of the period preceding Easter. It is a time when children can gorge themselves on sweets and adults can indulge in a pint at the local pub. A traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner usually includes colcannon—a dish made of mashed potatoes, butter, onions, and kale.

CONTACTS:
St. Patrick's Festival
St. Stephen's Green House
Earlsfort Terr.
Dublin, 2 Ireland
353-1-6763205; fax: 353-1-6763208
www.stpatricksday.ie

SOURCES:
BkFest-1937, p. 55
BkFestHolWrld-1970, p. 74
BkHolWrld-1986, Mar 17
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 81
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 137
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 207
NatlHolWrld-1968, p. 34

Celebration day: Mar 17

Celebrated in: Ireland