Saint Patrick’s day : A pure Irish story

March 17th is a very important day in Ireland. Indeed, this day is one of the greatest symbols of this country. Saint Patrick’s day is famous all around the world and is settled in the cultural part of many countries such as the United States or Canada. But do yo really know the origin of this particular day ? How did it begin ? Let me explain it to you.

Who is Saint Patrick ?

Maewyn Succat (nowadays known as Saint Patrick) was born in 385 in Great Britain. When he was 16 he was kidnapped by pirates who then sold him to an Irish druid. He would have met God in one of his dreams, so he decided to escape to the Normandy coast in order to study theology and become a priest. A few years later, in 432, Pope Celestin I ordered him to return to Ireland in order to convert Irish Kings to Christianity. To explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (father, son, and the Holy Spirit), he used a 3-leaf clover. This is how this plant became a national emblem known worldwide. During his quest, Saint Patrick was ordained bishop and erected many monasteries.

A symbolic celebration

Originally, Saint Patrick’s day is a holy day. It is customary to go to church and wear a clover leaf (symbol of the Holy Trinity) with the buttonhole. The Catholic Church recognized Saint Patrick’s day as a religious holiday in 1631 when the Pope decided to integrate it into the Christian calendar. This celebration takes place during Lent, which is the 40 days of fasting of the Christian religion, but it is possible to break the fast during this day. Saint Patrick’s day will officially become popular much later. It is also important to mention that the first manifestation of the Saint Patrick’s day did not take place in Ireland but in Boston, Massachussetts in the United States (where the Irish community is very important) in 1737. March 17 will be declared a holiday in Ireland in 1903 by an act of the British Parliament.

Sources : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_de_la_Saint-Patrick https://www.histoire-pour-tous.fr/dossiers/3555-origine-et-histoire-de-la-saint-patrick.html

Valentin Colas