The History of Saint Patrick’s Day

By: Lilly Wittwer

Did you know that Chicago dyes the entire river green for a few hours on St. Patrick’s
Day? Or that the color of Saint Patrick’s Day was once blue? Many people have heard about
Saint Patrick’s Day, and wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. (I mean who doesn’t want to protect
themselves from getting pinched on St. Patrick’s Day?) However, many people don’t actually
know the origin of St. Patrick’s Day, let alone why everyone is supposed to wear green.
St. Patrick’s Day actually celebrates the Roman Catholic feast day of the patron saint of
Ireland. Saint Patrick died on March 17, which is the day that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
However, Saint Patrick actually wasn’t Irish. His birth name was Maewyn, and he was born
in Roman Britain. The only reason he ended up in Ireland was because he was kidnapped
into slavery, and got brought to Ireland. In the article, GPB Media, it states, “Patrick became
a bishop and after his death was named Ireland's patron saint. Celebrations in Ireland were
understated though. When the Irish emigrated to the U.S., they created the bigger
celebrations and parades known today.” Another source, Saint Patrick's Day in the United
States says, "Celebrations concentrate on Irish themed parties, drinks and food. Many people
get into the spirit by dressing in green clothing, and eating green colored food. Irish clubs and
pubs often hold parties or have special deals."This shows why St. Patrick’s Day is so popular
and important to both the Irish, and the Americans. In my family, we often wear green on St.
Patrick's Day, and if you aren't wearing green, you get pinched. We also often eat green
colored food for dinner.

Sources:
http://www.gpb.org/education/origins-of-st-patricks-day
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/st-patrick-day