St. Paddy’s Day - The History Behind Four-Leaf Clover Day
- themidnightmagazin
- Mar 28, 2021
- 2 min read
by Nahid Moradi
Learn about St. Patrick’s Day’s history, and a few ways you can partake in it’s traditions.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, which the Irish observe as a religious holiday as it occurs during the Christian season of Lent. On St. Patrick’s Day, Lenten prohibitions are waived, and many celebrate the holiday by drinking and feasting. The holiday was named after Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint and national apostle, as it commemorates the anniversary of his death on March 17, 461. The Irish began observing the holiday around the ninth century, and the first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in America, on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony that is now known as St. Augustine, Florida. Over the next several decades, Irish patriotism flourished among Irish-American immigrants and St. Patrick’s Day became a holiday for them to celebrate their heritage and culture in an unfamiliar land and environment.
Today, St. Patrick’s Day has become a mainstream holiday that people celebrate all around the world, no matter what race, religion or ethnicity. Anyone can partake in the holiday and celebrate Irish culture and heritage through a few Irish traditions that have been known to bring luck. This St. Patrick’s Day, wear Ireland’s lucky colour green, which historically represents the cultural identity movement in Ireland and its standing against British colonialism. Legend also has it that those who wear green will be invisible to leprechauns, who will pinch you if they see you. Furthermore, avoid any green food as it is associated with the historical trauma of the Great Famine where Irish folk had no choice but to eat grass and would often die of starvation with green stained mouths. You can also celebrate St. Paddy’s Day by having the traditional Irish meal of cured pork, or Irish bacon, as it was deemed unlucky to kill and eat cows for they were mainly used for dairy. This St. Patrick’s Day, remember it’s history while keeping an eye out for four-leaf clovers and leprechauns. Have fun and stay safe!
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Short yet comprehensive - enjoyed reading it!