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Catriona Barcoe
March 15, 2023
Shamrocks & Shenanigans
Shamrocks & Shenanigans
The story of St. Patrick's Day and its traditions
The story of St. Patrick's Day and its traditions
Who's ready for some St. Patrick's Day shenanigans?! When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, you might think of green beer, silly hats, and “Kiss Me, I’m Irish,” t-shirts. But have you ever wondered where all this fun and craic (see below) came from? Let's dive into the fascinating history of St. Patrick and the holiday that bears his name!
Who was Saint Patrick?
St. Patrick, considered the patron saint of Ireland, was actually born in Banna Venta Berniae, a town in Roman Britain, some time in the late 300s AD. That’s right, Patrick wasn’t Irish—and his name wasn’t Patrick, either. It was Maewyn Succat, but he didn’t care for that so he chose to be known as Patricius down the line.
The area where he was born was part of the Roman Empire’s province of Britannia, which consisted of both modern-day England and Wales, with its northern border marked by Hadrian’s Wall. North of the wall was what the Romans called Caledonia (known today as Scotland), which they never tried to colonize. Neither did the Romans ever seriously try to conquer and colonize Ireland or as they referred to it then, Hibernia.
Patrick was kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland but escaped to a monastery in Gaul (France) and converted to Christianity. He went back to Ireland in 432 as a missionary. While Christianity had already taken hold in the country, tradition has it that Patrick confronted the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites, making Christianity more widespread. Patrick became a bishop and after his death was named Ireland's patron saint.
Patrick died in 461 in Saul, County Down. He is buried on the grounds of Down Cathedral. March 17th marks the saint's death.
In Ireland, we say Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Happy St. Paddy’s Day, Lá fhéile Pádraig sona duit in Gaelic, or even Happy St. Pat’s Day at a push, but never Happy St. Patty’s Day!! We stick to the original Irish version of the name, Pádraig, the source of those mysterious, emerald double-Ds.
St. Patrick
ShamROCK your Paddy's Day!
Contrary to popular belief, the four-leaf clover is not associated with St. Patrick’s Day. While the four-leaf clover is considered lucky and is connected with luck in both Irish culture and around the world, it is actually the three-leaf Shamrock, or ‘seamrog’ in Gaelic that is connected to Saint Patrick. Surprisingly, the shamrock is not the official symbol of Ireland – this honour is reserved for the Celtic Harp.
Legend has it that St. Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the ancient Irish people. During a time when Catholicism was suppressed and its teachings forbade, "hedge schools" were also established. These were schools run outdoors in secluded places (sometimes literally 'under a hedge!). Teachers used the naturally available shamrock to teach religion. Wearing a clump of shamrock became a way for the Irish to show their defiance and kinship with one another.
Today, the shamrock has become a widely recognized symbol of Ireland, celebrated not only on St. Patrick's Day but throughout the world. It is often worn pinned to clothing above the right breast to signify Irish heritage and honor the way St. Patrick taught the Irish people about the Holy Trinity. Every year since the 1950s, the Taoiseach – the head of the Irish government – gifts the American President with a Waterford crystal bowl full of shamrock.
"Drowning the Shamrock"
"Drowning the Shamrock"
"Drowning the shamrock" is a surefire way to bring some good luck your way (even if it means a possible headache on March 18th).
Legend has it that Saint Patrick himself once walked into a pub and ordered a whiskey. The bartender tried to pull a fast one and only filled the glass halfway, but the saint called him out, warning that the devil comes for the dishonest. And wouldn't you know it, the next time Saint Patrick visited the pub, everyone's whiskey glasses were overflowing!
The drowning of the shamrock takes place at the end of the celebrations on St. Patrick’s night when the shamrock is dunked into the last glass of whiskey and then drunk during a toast to the saint. Afterward, the plant is tossed over the left shoulder. Today the phrase 'drowning the shamrock' means raising a glass to St. Patrick on his feast day.
The Land Free of Snakes!
One of the most popular legends about St. Patrick is that he banished all the snakes from Ireland, chasing them into the sea from atop a cliff. During one Lent, St. Patrick decided to do a 40-day fast on top of a mountain in County Mayo, now known as Croagh Patrick. From the moment he got there, he was harassed by crows, which turned out to be demons. St. Paddy didn't let them get the best of him. He kept right on praying and ringing a bell. Eventually, an angel showed up and told him that his faithfulness would result in the Irish becoming Christians until Judgment Day.
As St. Patrick came down the mountain after finishing his fast, he saw snakes gathering in front of him. Perhaps the great man was in a bad mood from his fasting because angered by the snakes’ look of evil and menace, he chased them into the sea and banished them forever. From that day forward, there were no snakes to be found in Ireland.
What do leprechauns have to do with St. Patrick's Day?
Leprechauns technically "existed" before St. Patrick's Day even came to be. The crafty creatures were initially written about in 19th-century Irish fables. They were described as short men who just happened to be exceptional shoemakers. After making their money, they hid their coins in pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Fun fact: they weren't originally described as wearing green, but red instead!
Leprechauns weren't associated with St. Patrick's Day until recently. In 1959, Darby O'Gill and the Little People was released, a Disney film about an old Irish man and his leprechaun friends. The movie was released right as St. Patrick's Day parades were becoming more common. So, it just happened naturally: Leprechauns became a staple in St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Why all the green?
Have you ever wondered why green is the color of choice on St. Patrick's Day? Well, there's more to it than just avoiding pinches from your friends. It actually goes back to the Irish Rebellion when Irish soldiers sported green as they battled the British, who wore their signature red. Surprisingly, up until then, blue was the color associated with St. Patrick and his Feast Day.
But everything changed in 1798 when soldiers sang the iconic tune, "The Wearing of the Green," during the rebellion, making green the official color of Ireland. The color became a symbol of Irish pride and solidarity, and people have been sporting green on St. Patrick's Day ever since.
As time passed, modern-day celebrations and themes started to take shape. In 1762, the first-ever New York City parade took place, and it wasn't until the year of the Irish Rebellion that green became officially associated with the day. Before then, blue was featured both in the royal court and on ancient Irish flags.
"Kiss me, I'm Irish"
The phrase "Kiss me, I'm Irish" comes from the Blarney Stone. Irish legend says that kissing the famous stone in Blarney Castle gives the kisser the gift of charming, eloquent, and persuasive speech. Since most people won't get to smooch the stone, it's said that puckering up to an Irish person is the next best thing!
What's with the drinking?!
It wasn’t until the early 18th century that many of today’s traditions were kicked into high gear. Since St. Patrick's Day falls during Lent, the "Feast Day" provided Christians a day off from the prescriptions of abstinence leading up to Easter. Basically, it was a day to eat and drink as much as you pleased in celebration. However, indulging in whiskey and beer was not part of the equation. In fact, pubs in Ireland were forced by law to shut down for the holiday until later in the 20th Century, and drinking alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day was greatly frowned upon until the late 1970s. A huge marketing push from Budweiser in the '80s convinced thirsty revelers that drinking beer and St. Patrick’s Day go hand in hand.
How did St. Patrick's Day Parades start?
The first St. Partick's Day parade in Ireland was held in Waterford in 1903, but did you know that the first recorded parade actually took place in a Spanish colony in Florida back in 1601? And it wasn't until over a century later that homesick Irish soldiers in the English military marched through the streets of New York City in honor of their patron saint.
Fast forward to today and St. Patrick's Day parades are celebrated all over the world, with the biggest one taking place in Dublin, Ireland. More than 4000 people participate in the parade, including marching bands from both Ireland and North America. The colorful floats, creative pageants, and showstopping performances are sure to delight the crowds. This year's theme for Dublin's parade is 'Mar a chéile sinn', meaning 'We are one', and it promises to be a celebration of unity and community.
So why is St. Patrick's Day so widely celebrated? Well, it all goes back to the mass emigration of the Irish people, particularly after the devastating Irish Famine of the mid-1800s. As a result, millions of Irish descendants can now be found all over the world, with over 34 million in the United States alone.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
St. Patrick's Day around the World
Here are some of the most unique places around the world that celebrate St. Patrick's Day in their own special way:
Montserrat, West Indies - celebrates with a week-long festival of independence, including the Masquerade where people dress in colorful hats, dance Irish jigs, and crack whips in defiance of their one-time Irish masters.
Buenos Aires, Argentina - hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in South America with an annual street party featuring music, dancing, and plenty of craic at Breoghans Brewpub.
Tokyo, Japan - holds the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in Japan, which is a glorious mix of traditional Japanese stylized dress with Irish costumes.
Singapore - dyes the Singapore River green, has a Harley-Davidson convoy, and hosts an annual ball with free-flowing wine, beer, live music, prize drawings, and Irish dancing.
Sydney, Australia - holds the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade and family day in the southern hemisphere and is the only event in the world outside of Ireland to be organized and funded with support from the Irish government.
Auckland, New Zealand - holds the first St. Patrick's Day party since midnight on March 17th, and is the farthest celebration away from Ireland.
Mumbai, India - sees the Gateway of India go green, and Irish pubs stock up on Murphy’s stout.
Dubai, UAE - celebrates St. Patrick's Day at The Irish Village with DJs, live bands, happy hour specials, and even a petting zoo for the kids.
Istanbul, Turkey - celebrates St. Patrick's Day with an Irish festival at The James Joyce Irish Pub, which features live dancing, music, an ample beer selection, and traditional Irish food.
Sydney
Tokyo
West Indies
Signapore
How do the Irish in Ireland celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
On St. Patrick's Day, the whole world gets to be Irish but how do the Irish in Ireland actually celebrate?
There are three things for certain in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day; the pubs will be packed, the beers will be flowing (but won't be green!), and the craic will be mighty!
Many Irish will kick the day off with a traditional Irish breakfast consisting of black and white puddings (blood sausage and pork), grilled tomato, rashers (Irish bacon), eggs, and bangers (Irish sausage).
Breakfast is followed by a local parade, and on to the local pub to cheer on the local and international teams. Attending or watching live sports is a huge part of Ireland's St Patrick’s Day celebrations!
Every year, on March 17th, the finals of the All Ireland Club Championships for hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football take place in Croke Park, Dublin.
There's also the Rugby Six Nations tournament to add to the excitement. This tournament features teams from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy, and usually wraps on or around March 17th Irish fans get to enjoy watching Ireland's last game of the tournament as part of their St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Ireland is undefeated so far in the 2023 tournament, so here's hoping we lift the cup this weekend!
Horse racing is a time-honored tradition in both Ireland and the UK. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the leading events on the horseracing sporting calendar and has strong connections with Irish horse racing and Ireland as a whole! It's the perfect time to have a little flutter on the gee-gees (bet on a horse), especially during the Cheltenham Gold Cup - the main event on the final day of the festival!!
Hurling Game in Croke Park
Hurling Game in Croke Park
Six Nations Rubgy
Six Nations Rubgy
A pint of the 'Black Stuff'
Did you know that drinking green beer isn’t actually an Irish tradition? That's right, you won't find a green beer in Ireland on St. Paddy's Day —ever!! Rumor has it that the first green beer was introduced in 1914, and it’s been a quirky St. Paddy’s Day tradition celebrated around the world since (just not in Ireland). We Irish like to celebrate with something like a classic pint of Guinness instead!
St. Patrick’s Day and Guinness go hand-in-hand. It all started with Arthur Guinness and his passion for brewing. He signed a lease for the St. James’s Gate Brewery for 9,000 years (yes, you read that right!), and started off making ale before deciding to focus on a popular beer called porter. Fast forward to today, and Guinness is enjoyed in a whopping 150 countries! On St. Patrick’s Day alone, up to 13 million pints are consumed around the globe.
Traditional Irish Music
Traditional Irish Music
Dublin's Temple Bar
Dublin's Temple Bar
Irish Dancers
Irish Dancers
“Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaiobh” – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.
Sláinte!
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