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| What's the story behind St Patrick's Day? | Send to a friend |
| Written by Joanna Drag | |||||
| Monday, 16 March 2009 14:07 | |||||
St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and though many of you may be gearing yourself up for a day of wearing green and drinking heavily, have you ever given much thought to the meaning behind the festivity?This Irish holiday is celebrated around the world on March 17 to honour the patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick, who was said to have died on this day in the fifth century. Though one of the most celebrated Saints, accounts of St Patrick’s history are vague, though acts attributed to him include bringing written word to Ireland and converting the country to Christianity.
A little known fact about St Patrick’s Day is the original colour linked to the celebration is blue; St Patrick’s blue to be exact. Green is associated with the holiday now partly because of the Ireland itself, nicknamed the emerald isle, and because of the shamrock, the Irish symbol for luck.
The shamrock is a symbol of St Patrick’s Day as the Saint himself used it to explain the concept of the Trinity. Tradition saw men pick a shamrock and place it in their lapel to celebrate the holiday.
As for the excessive drinking, there are a number of reasons given for this ‘tradition’. Possible reasons include: playing up to the stereotype that all Irish people are heavy drinkers, it is an excuse to celebrate after winter and that it is a break from the abstinence from alcohol that Irish Catholics undertake for Lent.
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