Fascinating Saint Patrick’s Day Traditions

Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious and cultural holiday celebrated on March 17th, every year. The holiday is named after the patron saint of Ireland, better known as Saint Patrick. So what does this holiday celebrate? It celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland through the help of Saint Patrick and also celebrates Irish culture and traditions. Below are some interesting customs and traditions that people typically observe on this festive holiday! 

ATTENDING MASS

Since the origin of Saint Patrick’s day is that of a religious holiday, it makes sense that most Catholics attend church, or mass, on this holiday. Many people go to church to give thanks to Saint Patrick, who is best known as the patron saint of Ireland and for spreading the religion of Christianity throughout the country. The mass will typically include special songs and prayers to honor the saint, as well as readings from the Bible. Even in other parts of the world, outside of Ireland, people still host gatherings and mass to celebrate the holiday, particularly in places with a high Irish population. Attending mass on this holiday is a great and meaningful way to connect with the rich cultural and religious history tied to this holiday while connecting with those around the world who share the same religion and culture!

WEARING A SPRIG OF SHAMROCK (OR GREEN)

Another fun way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day (which is commonly seen even in the US) is to wear green or a sprig of shamrock. A shamrock is a three-leafed clover that is an important cultural symbol in Ireland. The three leaves represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Christian religion. Legend has it that this is the exact symbol Saint Patrick used to explain and spread Christianity throughout the nation, leaving it to be an important symbol on the holiday in memory of him. In other parts of the world, wearing green is also a common tradition. This tradition was thought to have originated in the late 18th century, during the time of the American Revolutionary war. During this time, Irish soldiers who were fighting were said to have worn green uniforms, and thus, the tradition of wearing green on Saint Patrick’s day is now a common and popular way to celebrate the holiday or show off your pride for your Irish background.

LIGHTING BONFIRES

Lighting bonfires is another way people celebrate Saint Patrick’s day. You may not see this tradition as often in the United States, but it is often performed on Saint Patrick’s day in Ireland, specifically in rural areas. This custom dates back many centuries and was best believed to be a way to celebrate the arrival of the spring season while also warding off evil spirits from entering one’s house and property. Though this practice occurs far less often now (due to safety and environmental concerns), it has a pretty neat history and can be accompanied by music, dancing, and all sorts of other exciting festivities!

WEARING A LEPRECHAUN PIN

Wearing a leprechaun pin is a great and festive way to show your Saint Patrick’s Day spirit! Leprechauns are the traditional Irish symbol of luck and mischievousness. They are said to be little, curious creatures who enjoy playing tricks on people and hiding their pots of gold! A pin with a leprechaun on it is usually just a very small, decorative pin with a picture of a leprechaun on it or even a four-leaf clover (to symbolize good luck). It can be worn on your shirt, jacket, bag, hat, etc. Usually, it’s even made with green and gold colors (to represent the flag of Ireland). Wearing this pin is a great way to show your excitement for the holiday!