ok, and so do sober people. But unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind when it comes around to this time of year is liquor, and massive amounts of drinking, bar fights etc..
But let’s get to what St. Patricks day really is.
St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures.
The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint’s feast day also thought to be the date of the saint’s death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City in 1766.
Saint Patrick’s Day was celebrated at first only as a religious holiday, and became a public holiday in 1903. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in the Irish Free State in Dublin in 1931.
And then came the 1990’s! the Irish government began a campaign to use Saint Patrick’s Day to showcase Ireland and its culture, great idea eh? I love festivals that celebrate culture, I mean love. The first Saint Patrick’s Festival was held on 17 March 1996. In 1997, it became a three-day event, and by 2000 it was a four-day event. By 2006, the festival was five days long.
Long live the irish!
Andrew bluntblogger
(just say what you mean)
