Leprechauns, Parades, All Things Green – Every March, countries around the world are filled with celebrating Ireland’s pride.
But how did compliance with Irish heritage begin? This is what you need to know about holiday history.
What do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Originally, Irish holidays were intended to honor St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Now, that day has become a celebration of Irish culture.
Who was St. Patrick?
Born in England, St. Patrick was a bishop and missionary in the 5th century. He was not the first Catholic pastor to visit Ireland, but it is believed that he brought Christianity to the country.
As a teenager, Patrick was accused of a group of Irish assailants and sold to slavery according to the History Channel. Six years later, he escaped the prisoners and returned home. Soon he began studying to become a priest.
Following his ordination as a priest, Patrick returned to Ireland to spread Catholicism.
Why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on March 17th?
March 17 marks the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death, according to the Library of Congress.
When did people start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day?
Irish people have been celebrating St. Patrick with special church services and feasts since around the 9th or 10th century.
However, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade is believed to have been held in the United States in 1601. In 1762, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the British army in 1762 organized a march in honor of the patron saints of New York City, presenting the tradition of the long-standing American parade.
Why is Shamrock a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day?
According to legend, St. Patrick uses three leaves shamrocks to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. However, according to National Geographic, historians largely agree that the story is told.
Along with greenery, the mythical plants later became symbols of Ireland’s promotion in search of independence from British rule. Since then, it has become representative of the entire country.
Why do people eat corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day?
While Americans associate corn beef and cabbage on March 17th, Irish people historically ate little beef. But eventually, the Irish people began exporting beef to wealthier England, and by the 1600s the meat became Ireland’s biggest export.
Then, in the mid-1600s, England stopped importing Irish beef because competition from its own beef production industry was expected. As a result, Ireland shifts its focus from production to preservation, using inexpensive salts on the size of corn, and is named “corn beef” to keep the beef fresh for longer.
When the Irish people began to emigrate to America in the mid-19th century, they brought food with them and created the Irish American symbol for the Irish heritage.
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