While St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations often produce images of t -shirts that carry « Kiss me, i’m Irish », hats and pubs lepchaun full of people, the holidays have a deeper meaning.
Here is a look at who was the pattern of Ireland and why it is celebrated every year.
When did we start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?
Revery’s first historical record for Saint patrician Dates in the 7th century in Ireland, Sarah Waidler, assistant professor of Irish Language, Literature and Culture at New York University, told CBS News. However, he said that people had already begun to honor it before.
During medieval times, texts show that people not only believed that Saint Patrick was a saint, but also part of the final judgment of God of the Irish when they died. Over the years, Patrick was « strongly identified » with Ireland and would become one of his three patterns, along with St. Brigid and St. Columba, said Waidler.
The first parade of St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated St. Augustine, FloridaIn 1601, historians say. No, as some could suppose, on Emerald Island.
« The parade is a hug from Irish diaspora, » said Elizabeth Stack, the executive director of the American Irish Historical Society of New York City. Above all, he said, at times when there was a boost against the Catholics.
Through the parades, the Irish community says: « Yes, we are proud of our heritage and our roots, » he said, « but we are also a very vibrant part of a modern city or modern America. »
It is also a gentle reminder, he said that « there are many of us and, if we decide to vote as a blog, we can use a lot of power. »
Elizabeth Stack, director American Irish Historical Society
According to the US census31.5 million Americans, or 9.5% of the population, claimed an Irish ancestry in 2021. By 2023, the population of Ireland was 5.3 million. « There is more than we left the country and we stayed there, » said Stack.
Who was Saint Patrick?
This can be a surprise to some, but St. Patrick was not actually Irish. « The Holy Patron of Ireland is actually a Galès, » said Cian T. McMahon, an Ireland expert and the Irish diaspora and a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in CBS News.
« The previous days were England, Scotland and Wales, it was Rome, » he said. So, Patrick was born in what is now Wales, but at that time he was Roman Britain.
Much of what historians know about St. Patrick, comes from two of their own writings, which is fortunate to have it so long ago, Waidler said. The two pieces were probably written in the fifth century, but Patrick did not date or gave much historical context. Therefore, historians are not sure when he lived.
However, according to these writings, Patrick said he was captured when he was 16 years old by the slaves of Roman Britain, where he was, in the words of McMahon. Catholic. « »
The slaves took Patrick to Ireland, where he said he was working as a pastor. This difficulty helped him rediscover his faith, and after 6 years he escaped in Britain, attributing his release to God’s works. After escaping, he spent many years training to become bishop, according to his writings.
Waidler said it is difficult to say if Patrick was really recognized as bishop because there are no other historical texts that support this claim.
After allegedly becoming bishop, Patrick said that in a vision he heard the voice of an Irish fisherman who called him to the country where he was earlier. He then returned to the pagan Celtic nation of Ireland and turned people into Catholicism.
St. Patrick died on March 17, recognized by the Church. Waidler said it is difficult to know the exact year.
Images mikroman6 / getty 
Patrick’s story, many later writers, is very similar to the Bible.
After being abducted to slavery, he could have been revenge or look towards the people who put him in easement, said Stack. But he decided, on the other hand, to forgive the Irish.
In doing it, he said he « changed Ireland forever, turning a pagan country into an intense Catholic. » The « beautiful message » of Tolerance and forgiveness « of Saint Patrick becomes more and more relevant, » said Stack.
In modern times, many are aware of the legends that St. Patrick surrendered to Ireland of Snakes and who taught the idea of the Holy Trinity through a Shamrock.
According to Waidler, the stories that attribute the expulsion of poisonous or reptile creatures to Saint Patrick began in the 12th century. However, some later writers see the expulsion of snakes as a metaphor for paganism. « It is a story that continues to repeat after the 12th century and also appears in the first images of the saint, » he said.
« Shamrocks are harder to track, » Waidler said. The term Shamrock first appeared in 1571, but was first attributed to St. Patrick in a treaty on the native plants of Ireland in 1726. « By the way, » Shamrocks, « he said, » are simply nails. «
St. Patrick’s Day also used to be associated with blue. However, as other countries began to celebrate it in more modern times, Green associated with the day because the Irish-Americans attribute green to « all things in Ireland, » Waidler said.
Where is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated?
« The best question is where it is not celebrated, » said McMahon.
He said that mass migration has been a defining feature of Irish life since the early 1700’s. « Where the Irish ended up installing -they use St. Patrick’s Day as a way to do at home. »
« We can be Irish in any part of the world, » he said.
The Irish have migrated to « every corner of the world, » said Stack. Dubai, Singapore, Australia, the United States and more celebrate the saint.
Scott Olson / Getty pictures
« The Irish made a point to welcome non -Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, » McMahon explained.
Even George Washington, an Anglican Christian, was a member of the friendly children of St. Patrick in Philadelphia. The reason, McMahon said, was: « We were born Irish, but we turned us to Americans … Why Washington cannot be born American, but becoming Irish? »
Ireland leaders also usually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in other countries, said McMahon. This, he explained, is because his government acknowledges that the day is an opportunity to reconnect with friends and allies from all over the world.
The Irish Prime Minister, or the Taoiseach, Micheál MartinHe visited the White House on March 12 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year.
According to Ireland website« Our diaspora promotes good will. It generates economic development. It takes advantage of and shows our diverse and dynamic culture. »
Therefore, the common phrase « Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day » may have some truth.
Leave a Reply