HAPPY ST PATRICK’S
DAY TO OUR IRISH FRIENDS
St. Patrick's Day
is celebrated on March 17, the saint's religious feast day and the anniversary
of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a
religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls
during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend
church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions
against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and
feast--on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
St. Patrick and the First St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint
and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and
brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned
to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the
centuries following Patrick's death (believed to have been on March 17, 461),
the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish
culture: Perhaps the most well known legend is that he explained the Holy
Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish
clover, the shamrock.
Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick on March 17. Interestingly, however, the first parade held to honor St. Patrick's Day took place not in Ireland but in the United States. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over the next 35 years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants
flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies
like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group
would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became
popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.
In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form one official New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world 's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants. Each year, nearly 3 million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants each.
In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form one official New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world 's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants. Each year, nearly 3 million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants each.
Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were
members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit
Ireland in 1845, close to 1 million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began
pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their alien religious
beliefs and unfamiliar accents by the American Protestant majority, the
immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the
country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their
heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.
The American Irish soon began to realize, however, that their large and growing numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish Americans whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in the New World.
The American Irish soon began to realize, however, that their large and growing numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish Americans whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in the New World.
As Irish immigrants spread out over the United States, other cities
developed their own traditions. One of these is Chicago’s annual dyeing of the
Chicago River green. The practice started in 1962, when city pollution-control
workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the
green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, they
released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river--enough to keep it
green for a week! Today, in order to minimize environmental damage, only 40
pounds of dye are used, and the river turns green for only several hours.
Although Chicago historians claim their city's idea for a river of green was original, some natives of Savannah, Georgia (whose St. Patrick's Day parade, the oldest in the nation, dates back to 1813) believe the idea originated in their town. They point out that, in 1961, a hotel restaurant manager named Tom Woolley convinced city officials to dye Savannah's river green. The experiment didn't exactly work as planned, and the water only took on a slight greenish hue. Savannah never attempted to dye its river again, but Woolley maintains (though others refute the claim) that he personally suggested the idea to Chicago's Mayor Richard J. Daley.
Although Chicago historians claim their city's idea for a river of green was original, some natives of Savannah, Georgia (whose St. Patrick's Day parade, the oldest in the nation, dates back to 1813) believe the idea originated in their town. They point out that, in 1961, a hotel restaurant manager named Tom Woolley convinced city officials to dye Savannah's river green. The experiment didn't exactly work as planned, and the water only took on a slight greenish hue. Savannah never attempted to dye its river again, but Woolley maintains (though others refute the claim) that he personally suggested the idea to Chicago's Mayor Richard J. Daley.
Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick's Day, especially
throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is
home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many other
locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and
Russia.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day was traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use interest in St. Patrick's Day to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. Today, approximately 1 million people annually take part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day was traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use interest in St. Patrick's Day to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the world. Today, approximately 1 million people annually take part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.
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