What To Do This St. Patrick’s Day and Why Do We Celebrate?

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th every year, and it is one of the most popular holidays around the world. This day is dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish people in the fifth century.

History of St. Patrick’s Day

The history of St. Patrick’s Day can be traced back to the early seventeenth century when it was made an official feast day in the Catholic Church. The day was originally a religious holiday that was celebrated with church services and feasts.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1762 by Irish soldiers who were serving in the British army. The parade was a way for the Irish soldiers to celebrate their Irish heritage and culture. In the years that followed, St. Patrick’s Day parades became a popular tradition in Irish-American communities across the United States.

St. Patrick’s Day became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903, and it remains a significant cultural and religious holiday in the country to this day. The day is celebrated with parades, festivals, and other cultural events. The most famous St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in Dublin, and it attracts hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions

One of the most popular traditions associated with St. Patrick’s Day is wearing green. The tradition dates back to the eighteenth century when it was believed that wearing green made you invisible to leprechauns, who would pinch anyone they could see. Today, wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is a way to show your Irish pride and to celebrate the holiday.

Another tradition associated with St. Patrick’s Day is the consumption of corned beef and cabbage. This dish has become synonymous with the holiday, even though it is not a traditional Irish dish. Corned beef and cabbage became popular in the United States in the early twentieth century when Irish immigrants began to substitute beef for the more expensive traditional Irish dish of bacon and cabbage.

St. Patrick’s Day is also associated with the shamrock, a three-leaf clover that is said to represent the Holy Trinity. According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish people. Today, the shamrock is a popular symbol of Irish culture and is often worn as a badge or a piece of jewelry on St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day Festivities in San Antonio

You can join in on the St. Patrick’s Day events in San Antonio by watching the dyeying of the river walk, attending the bud light festival, or attending the St. Patrick’s Day river parade. Some other fun San Antonio events include the 5K Wine and Beer Run, and the after-party at Howl At The moon.  Perhaps the St. Patrick’s Day Artisan Show or the St. Patrick’s Day Crawl is more your cup of Irish tea.