#HistoryLesson: Why do we celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
Well HELLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO my little nerdlings. Ever wonder why we celebrate St. Pattys day? ME TOO!!! Look over here, I got somethin' for ya:
Per WhyGuides: One of the widely celebrated annual events in various parts of the world, St. Patrick’s Day is a festive celebration commemorating the sainthood of one of the highly influential religious figures. New Zealand, the United States and Ireland are just few of the many countries that pay homage to Saint Patrick, which is usually held every 17th day of March. For those who wish to know the real meaning behind the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, here are some highly important details and information.
Reason Behind the Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day
Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? The primary reason for the celebration is to commemorate the feast day of Saint Patrick, a Christian missionary who later on became the patron saint of Ireland. It is held every 17th day of March, which is believed to coincide with the time of his death. English-speaking countries, individuals of Irish ancestry and the Irish people are just few of the many groups that devotedly follow this special annual celebration.
This special day of celebration is grounded fundamentally on religion. Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans and Roman Catholics are some of the religious groups that held this special festivity every year. Besides its designation as an official holiday in Ireland, other countries also celebrate this day although not as an official holiday including Argentina, Australia and United Kingdom. Some of the usual practices in celebrating this special day include drinking alcohol, wearing green and attending mass.
Also called Saint Paddy’s Day, people celebrate this feast differently depending on where they are located. For instance, this day is celebrated as a religious holiday, both for the Roman Catholic Church as well as for the Church of Ireland. Today, it is celebrated more as a secularized event rather than a religious observance. It has transformed into a lively, colorful and joyous festivity marked by music performers, bands and floats.
A Look at How Different Places Celebrate This Wonderful Event
In the U.S., people wear green items and clothing to celebrate this day. Various places in the country like Chicago, New York and Indiana color their rivers, canals and fountains with green dye. In Uruguay, people drink lots of beer and dance to lively beats when celebrating this special day. In New Zealand as well as in Australia, individuals who wish to drink beers and alcoholic beverages occupy the streets starting from the afternoon all the way down until nighttime. They also wear various kinds of green clothing and accessories.
In Great Britain, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with heavy drinking, colorful parades and exciting horseracing. In Canada, various sports teams in professional basketball and baseball wear green uniforms and jerseys. In Argentina, heavy drinking and parties are held all throughout the country.