March 17, also known as, St. Patrick’s Day. If you didn’t put on green this morning, don’t be surprised if someone tries to pinch you or teases you that you didn’t wear any green today. I remember wearing green as a child in order to avoid being teased or pinched at school. However, there are a few other traditions that are popular on this Irish Holiday. Some of these traditions include: parades, leprechauns, clovers (shamrocks), the color green, and anything Irish.
St. Patrick’s Day is a Religious and Cultural Holiday
St. Patrick’s day was named after St. Patrick who was a famous patron saint in Ireland. March 17th is not only about all things related to green or pinching because you didn’t wear green. However, it is a religious and cultural holiday that is celebrated all over the world. During the 17th century, St. Patrick’s Day was the traditional day for the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican Community which includes the church of Ireland, to celebrate the Christian day of feasting. On this day, many Christians attend church services and partake of restricted food and alcoholic beverages that are usually off limits during the season of Lent. The Lenten restrictions are lifted for this day and people are encouraged to take part in the festivities.
Why is Green the Color Used for St. Patrick’s Day?
If you wore green today, you chose the right color to wear for St. Patrick’s day. However, most people probably don’t know that the original color associated with St. Patrick’s day was actually blue. The color was changed to green around the 17th century when people began wearing green ribbons and shamrocks.
Shamrocks are a Popular Symbol Associated with St. Patrick’s Day
Most shamrocks have three clovers and you are considered lucky if you find a four leaf clover. The three leaf clover was used by St. Patrick to help describe to the Irish Pagans in the early days about the Trinity (Father, Spirit, and Holy Ghost). The clover is a sacred plant that brings a sign of hope and a new season, when they begin blooming during the springtime. Shamrocks were also worn by Irish people as a symbol. It was used to represent that the Irish people were proud of their heritage. However, they wanted to show the English that they didn’t like being under their rule, when the English began taking over Ireland.
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How do you spend St. Patrick’s Day? Do you wear green?
