St. Patrick's Day

Statue of St. Patrick at Hill of Tara, Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá 'le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially Paddy's Day, is the feast day which annually celebrates Saint Patrick (373-493), the patron saint of Ireland, on March 17. It is the Irish national holiday and one of the public holidays in the Republic of Ireland (a bank holiday in Northern Ireland); the overseas territory of Montserrat; and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the United States it is widely celebrated, although not an official holiday.

St. Patrick was born in Britain at Banna Venta Berniae. When he was about sixteen he was captured by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years and worked as a herdsman. Saint Patrick wrote that his faith grew in captivity, and that he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port, two hundred miles away, he says, where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family. He entered the church, as his father, Calpornius, and grandfather, Potitus, had before him, becoming a deacon and a bishop. He later returned to Ireland as a mis- sionary, working in the north and west of the island, and by using Monasteries as the center for his missionary work had great success in the conversion of Ireland. By the seventh century he had become a patron saint of Ireland, and the foundations of Irish Christianity were attributed largely to him.

Possibly the burial site of Saint Patrick, in churchyard of cathedral in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.

For most of Christianity's first thousand years, canonisations were done on the diocesan or regional level. Relatively soon after the death of people considered to be very holy people, the local Church affirmed that they could be liturgically celebrated as saints. As a result, St. Patrick has never been formally canonised by a Pope, but he is still widely venerated in Ireland and elsewhere today.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by many of non-Irish descent. Celebrations are generally themed around all things green and Irish; both Christians and non- Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food, imbibing Irish drink, and attending parades.

Slemish, County Antrim, where Patrick is said to have worked as a herdsman while a slave.

As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland and some other denominations. The day always falls in the season of Lent. In church calendars (though rarely in secular ones) Saint Patrick's Day is moved to the following Monday when it falls on a Sunday. It is traditional for those observing a lenten fast to break it for the duration of Saint Patrick's Day whenever March 17 falls on a Friday.

In many parts of North America, Britain, and Australia expatriate Irish, those of Irish descent, and ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's Day, usually by drinking incredible amounts of alcoholic beverages (lager dyed green, Irish beer and stout, Irish whiskey, Irish cider or Irish coffee and by wearing at least one article of green-colored clothing.

The shamrock, an unofficial symbol of Ireland and Boston, Massachusetts, is a three-leafed young white clover.

Irish American immigrants brought Saint Patrick's Day to the United States. The first civic and public celebration of Saint Patrick's Day in the 13 colonies took place in Boston, Massachusetts in 1737. The first celebration Saint Patrick's Day in New York City was held at Crown and Thistle Tavern in 1756. In 1780, General George Washington, commanded soldiers of Irish descent in the Continental Army, allowed his troops a holiday on March 17. This event became known as The St. Patrick's Day Encampment of 1780. Today, Saint Patrick's widely celebrated in the Irish and non-Irish alike. Many people, regardless of ethnic background, wear green-colored clothing and items. Traditionally, those who are caught not wearing green are pinched.

The Chicago River is traditionally dyed green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

Many parades are held around the country to celebrate the holiday. The New York parade, organized and run by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, has become Patrick's Day parade outside Ireland. In 150,000 marchers including bands, military and groups, county associations, emigrant societies, and social and cultural clubs and was by the U.S. 69th Infantry Regiment. New York politicians- or those running for office- are always found prominently marching in the parade. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch once proclaimed himself "Ed O'Koch" for the day, and he continues to don an Irish sweater and march every year, even though he is no longer in office.