Brendan O’Shea looks at the impact of Ireland’s national holiday the world over.
As Ireland – and especially its capital – prepares for the St Patrick’s Day festivities, it is important to understand the foundations of the holiday as well as its impact around the world.
The day itself celebrates St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who introduced and spread Catholicism around the island. But the first celebrations in Boston and New York in the mid-18th century – with the first known parade recorded in New York in 1766 – as an ode to the widespread popularity of Irish history and heritage.
Today, nations in every corner of the globe partake in the celebrations. There are a few differences in how certain cultures enjoy the day, but with two general exceptions: the colour green, and a slew of drinking.
Some traditionalists are upset that St Patrick’s religious legacy has transformed through the centuries into an excuse for drinking alcohol, but it is important to note that at least people worldwide recognise the holiday, even at the expense of its origins.
From Dublin to New York, from Sydney to Paris, from Beijing to Moscow, Irish celebrations are held every year on 17 March. The biggest of these is strangely enough not in Dublin but in the ‘Big Apple’, as the day has developed into more of a party for everyone involved, not just those of Irish descent. As the saying goes: “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
In contrast, places such as China are much more subdued in their celebrations due to restrictions on public demonstrations. On a similar note, Paris hasn’t seen any parade in recent years, but the local Irish pubs are always spilling with revellers.
This year in Dublin, the parade is being heralded as the ‘People’s Parade’ in light of tourism and cultural initiative The Gathering. Some 8,000 people have been invited to join in the procession around the city, a move intended to include ordinary people from around the globe in the spiritual home of the feast day.
If you plan to join in the celebrations in this year’s St Patrick’s Festival, keep in mind the original roots of the day and its representation of Irish heritage, while still enjoying your fair share of pints!
