How Much Do You Know About St. Patrick’s Day

    St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades are held across the United States; New York City and Boston are home to the largest celebrations.

Who Was St. Patrick?

    Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped. But returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.

When Was the First St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated?

Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick on March 17. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. The parade, and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration a year earlier were organized by the Spanish Colony’s Irish vicar Ricardo Artur. More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City on March 17, 1772 to honor the Irish patron saint. Enthusiasm for the St. Patrick’s Day parades in New York City, Boston and other early American cities only grew from there.

Growth of St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Over the next 35 years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called “Irish Aid” societies like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form one official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world ‘s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants. Each year, nearly 3 million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants each. In 2020, the New York City parade was one of the first major city events to be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What to Do in DC Area for St. Patrick’s Day

There are tons of things to do while visiting Washington, D.C. during St. Patrick’s Day! Whether it’s enjoying delicious Irish cuisine with some authentic Irish music, or visiting our beautiful landmarks that have been built by Irish hands, there is fun for everyone during this festive weekend.

       1.Explore St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church is the oldest parish in Washington D.C, opening its doors 1794. Originally it was established to serve the Irish immigrants that flooded Washington to help build the White House and Capitol Building. The church is free and open to the public throughout the week, but please be mindful during times of worship. St. Patrick’s is conveniently located in Chinatown at 10th Street and G Street NW.

      2.Have a Costume Contest with Family Members

Wearing green is a must on St. Paddy’s Day, obviously, but why not take it to the next level? Break out those leprechaun hats and make it a friendly contest to see who has the most festive outfit.

      3.Kid’s Cupcake Decorating on St. Patrick’s Day

Drop off your kids for a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day cupcake decorating class!  No prior cake decorating experience required. Each ticket gets 6 cupcakes (3 vanilla/chocolate) to decorate and a table of their own. This a drop-off event is for kids ages 7-14. Admission: $45

Dates: March 13, 2021

Address:4300 Chantilly Shopping Center Dr., Suite #1H, Chantilly, VA 20151

Reference

History.com Editors (2009, October 27). History of St. Patrick’s Day. URL https://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day

Selena Barrientos & Hannah Jeon (2021, Mar 2). 17 Best St. Patrick’s Day Activities for a Day Full of Magical Fun. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/g26235518/fun-st-patricks-day-activities/

Canden Arciniega (2020). What To Do in Washington, DC for St. Patrick’s Day. https://freetoursbyfoot.com/what-is-there-to-do-in-washington-d-c-for-st-patricks-day/