DO YOU KNOW ST. PADDY?

All about the patron Saint of Ireland, Lent restrictions, shamrocks and parades

Who doesn’t love a good St. Patrick’s Day celebration? The emerald outfits, colourful songs, Irish step–dancing, fiddling, shamrocks and, of course, the drinks.

Observed annually on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is a secular celebration of Irish culture and is popular across the globe for a very good reason.

Born in the late 14th century, the historical figure known as St. Patrick was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave.

He escaped, reunited with his family, studied to become a priest, and spent the rest of his life as a missionary in his new country.

Today, his death is commemorated with parades, parties and church services — not just in Ireland, but anywhere you find an Irish man, woman or child.

Celebrated during the 40 days of Lent, St. Paddy’s received a special exemption from religious leaders, allowing people to consume alcohol during a time traditionally spent fasting and staying away from alcohol.

This led to the popular tradition of consuming copious amounts of alcohol on this day.

Imagine something being so important to the Irish people, that even the church decided to have a drink, let loose, and celebrate Irish culture. St. Patrick was also credited with using the shamrock as a symbol for the Holy Trinity, thereby cementing its presence on the faces, clothes, flags and buildings of any Irishman on St. Paddy’s Day.

Oddly, it was only a minor holiday in Ireland until the 1970s, despite it being celebrated in America since before the Revolutionary War, with the first St. Patrick’s Day parade held in 1762 by Irish members of the Colonial Army.

Now you know all about ol’ St. Paddy, how will you celebrate?