Regardless of your heritage, you are, most likely, very aware of St. Patrick's Day, the traditional Irish holiday celebrated yearly and worldwide (wherever there are Irish) on March 17th. There is a lot more to St. Patrick's Day than the "wearing of the green."
ORIGINS
Saint Patrick's Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide. The Irish are descendants of the ancient Celts, but the Vikings, Normans and English contributed to the ethnic nature of the people. Centuries of English rule largely eliminated the use of the ancient Gaelic, or Irish, language. Most Irish are either Catholics or Protestants (Anglicans, members of the Church of England).
So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.
In American cities with a large Irish population, St. Patrick's Day is a very big deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, colouring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!
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THE FIRST PARADE
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of 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.
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army. Over the next thirty-five 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.
Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has 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 St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theatre productions, and fireworks shows.
ST PATRICK'S FESTIVAL
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St. Patrick's Day is a very special day around the world, but nowhere in the world is it more special than Ireland. Ireland hosts the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration - St. Patrick's Festival - with a five day street party to celebrate being Irish. St. Patrick's Festival was established in 1996 to turn St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Ireland into a world class festival. Now ranking as one of the seven best parties in the world, St. Patrick's Festival has long outgrown St. Patrick's Day! For five full days Dublin streets are overtaken by carnival style parades, spectacular fireworks and Ireland's largest outdoor dance event. In between street events you can also enjoy a wonderful programme of visual arts and music events. 2005 is a special year with St. Patrick's Festival celebrating it's 10th Birthday! The Festival will run from March 16th - March 21st. Make sure to be in Dublin for the big party! |
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