NEW YORK — As March rolls around, one cannot help but think of St. Patrick’s Day if they encounter something green. Celebrated in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, this holiday has evolved into a worldwide festivity of Irish heritage, especially vibrant across the United States. Cities from coast to coast host parades, and countless foods and drinks sport a festive green hue.
Interestingly, it was the Irish American communities that established the day’s celebratory nature. While originally more subdued and religious in Ireland itself, the American version soon became ingrained in the cultural calendar.
St. Patrick himself, however, wasn’t Irish by birth. Experts indicate he was born in the late fourth century and later captured as a young man, eventually ending up as a slave in Ireland. After escaping, he trained as a priest and returned to Ireland in the fifth century, focused on promoting Christianity. Centuries later, he was canonized by the Catholic Church, and March 17 was designated as his feast day. Despite religious turmoil between Catholics and Protestants, both factions embraced him as Ireland’s patron, according to Mike Cronin, a historian and academic director at Boston College Dublin.
How did this Irish saint’s day garner widespread celebration in America? The answer lies in Irish immigrants bringing their customs overseas. St. Patrick’s Day observances in the U.S. predate the country’s founding, notably including an early parade in Manhattan in 1762. While initially solemn and religious in Ireland, the day took on a lively cultural dimension in America, engaging many who have little Irish descent.
Cronin explains that seeing how Americans celebrated motivated Ireland to evolve the day into the festival it is now, characterized by parades and other lively festivities. However, for those inclined to abbreviate, it’s important to clarify: it’s St. Paddy’s Day, not St. Patty’s Day, as Paddy refers to Pádraig, the Irish form of Patrick.
Why does this holiday hold such significance? More than just an excuse for parades and green attire, holidays symbolize “putting down roots, showing that you’ve made it in American culture,” notes Leigh Schmidt, a professor at Washington University. Staking a claim on the American calendar reflects success within American civic life. For Irish immigrant communities, especially in the 19th century when facing discrimination, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was a powerful way to counter nativist attitudes.
As for the curious phenomenon of four-leaf clovers, they are tied to the holiday. While the ubiquitous shamrock is a three-leaf clover, those with four are rarer, requiring specific genetic traits. Vincent Pennetti, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia, attests that while four-leaf clovers are indeed scarce, they can be found with keen observation.
Katie Glerum of New York City often stumbles upon them. During walks in places like Central Park, she occasionally spots one and usually shares it, receiving warm reactions. “Finding one isn’t daily, so when it does, it’s exciting,” she remarks.
