Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

For those looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday, it is more than a chance to wear green, swig some green beer, and spread a little bit of luck. The holiday marks Irish pride that is steeped in history dating back to 1631.

The origins of the holiday pay tribute to the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who was brought to the Emerald Isle when he was enslaved at the age of 16, according to BBC.

While St. Patrick, who was born in Roman Britain, escaped from his captors, he turned to the Isles as a shepherd and began to spread the word of Christianity throughout the region through baptism and confirmation, the news outlet said.

The legend of St. Patrick began to grow after his death, with many saying that he drove the snakes from the country as an explanation for why there are no snakes in Ireland even to this day.

But the reason that St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 is because this is the day that St. Patrick is believed to have died, giving Irish and Irish Americans a day to celebrate their heritage. But it didn’t officially become a holiday until 1904.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is considered a religious holiday for Catholics, where they attend mass as a holy obligation. The holiday is a big deal in Ireland but it is celebrated as a family day, when schools are closed and most adults have the day has off from work.

But for many, St. Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration, which may be why some associate the day with drinking. But Ireland has been careful to manage the image and does not link the holiday to alcohol, USA Today reported.

Green is the color theme of St. Patrick’s Day because it is the national symbol of Ireland and the color is represented in the country’s flag. One legend claims that green makes you invisible to leprechauns – a myth that originated in America, USA Today said.

The idea of leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day was born out of the idea of fairies that “could use their magical power to serve good or evil,” according to History.com. The leprechauns, who played tricks, mended the shoes of the fairies and have their own holiday on May 13, the website said.

Other traditions that are popular on St. Patrick’s Day include eating a traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage, wearing clovers, and of course pinching anyone that is not wearing green, Parade reported.