How St. Patrick’s Day Evolved Through History and Traditions

St. Patrick's Day first officially began back on March 17, 1601, to honor Saint Patrick, who was a beloved Christian missionary and bishop in the fifth century. In 1601, the U.S. was introduced to Irish culture and the day was originally known best for hosting Catholic feasts and parades. The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was in St. Augustine, Florida, hosted by an Irish vicar. Over time, the religious holiday evolved into a celebration of Irish culture as St. Patrick’s Day parades were brought up North to Boston and New York in the mid-eighteenth century by Irish soldiers in the British army.

This holiday is centered on the patron saint because he brought Christianity to Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Roman, Britain in the late fourth century. He was kidnapped and enslaved at 16 years old and brought to Ireland for over six years. He eventually escaped and converted the Irish to Christianity by preaching the gospel to those who had enslaved him.

St. Patrick’s Day became an official holiday in Ireland in 1903, and the day was an alcohol-free holiday until the 1960s. The day has moved away from religious observance and is now known for a day of parades, green attire, and festivities. A fun fact about the holiday is that the color known to resemble St. Patrick’s Day is green, connecting back to shamrocks and the Irish flag, but originally the holiday’s color was blue, representing Irish sovereignty.

People from Ireland brought fun festivities over to the U.S., and over time, the U.S. incorporated its own ways of celebrating, such as wearing green on the holiday to avoid being pinched; green drinks; wearing shamrocks; eating cabbage, carrots, and potatoes; and listening to Irish music. In Chicago every year, the city carries along their popular tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green in the morning, lasting throughout the entirety of the day. Locally, Wilmington, Delaware hosted its 49th Annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 14; and on that Sunday, Philadelphia also hosted a Parade to celebrate Irish heritage, carrying their title of being one of the nation's oldest ongoing parades. Lastly, a local holiday highlight was the high school’s Medicine 4 Youth club hosting a Saint Patrick’s Day bake sale from March 2 to March 4 to show their holiday spirit and receive funds for the club.