St. Patrick’s Day and Irish-American Heritage Month

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th. Masses wear green, drink beer, eat corned beef with cabbage and claim Irish heritage. But, this day isn’t about the over consumption of beer and food.

St. Patrick: Apostle of Ireland

Dates are a little sketchy. In fact, facts are a little sketchy surrounding Patrick. Legends are better known than actual facts. We do know that the man believed to be St. Patrick was born in Roman Britain around 385 AD to a wealthy family. Around the age of 16 he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland. Some have suggested his kidnapping was made up, but he stated adamantly all his life that the kidnapping was real.

He spent six years as a slave shepherding flocks. During this time he “found God”. St. Patrick believed God instructed him to flee to the coast. Once he arrived at the coast, there was a boat waiting for him. Because of the boat, he was able to head home. Many miles were traveled and some historians believe he was in his twenties by the time he arrived back in Roman Britain.

Once he arrived home, he went on to become a priest. He later decided to take his missionary work to Ireland. He spent many years converting the pagan Irish. It is thought that he died on March 17th, the year is questionable though. Some sources suggest 461 AD while others suggest a later date of 493 AD.

Due to the lack of trusted written records, it is hard to tell if all the tales attributed to St. Patrick were down to one man or several. These riddles may never be solved. It doesn’t really matter through. The figure of St. Patrick became revered and deeply rooted within Ireland’s Catholic Faith.

Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland, and had a feast day dedicated to him in the early 1600’s. As a result, it was a holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. When the Irish emigrated from their green isle, they took their faith and traditions with them.

Irish-American Heritage

In March of 1991, President George H. W. Bush proclaimed the first Irish-American Heritage Month. Heritage months are proclaimed by a nation to celebrate centuries of contributions by a group of people to that nation.

Irishmen served during the American Revolution. In fact, 9 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin. It is believed the first St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebration was held in Boston in 1737. In 1762 New York City held a parade and celebration. During the 1790’s Catholics fled from what is now the United Kingdom bringing many to the shores of America.

A large migration occurred from 1846 to the mid-1850’s. This was the devastating Potato Famine. During this time, Ireland was still under British rule. Their potato crops suffered from a terrible blight. They could barely feed their own families. Despite the famine, the British government did not cease calling on Ireland for their exportation of food to England. This increased starvation, loss of property and mass emigration. Estimates are that one million or more emigrated, and one million starved to death or perished due to disease caused by malnutrition.

Irish in America

Fleeing starvation in Ireland, many emigrated to America. Arrival in this country presented new challenges. Many came from a rural background and had no skills in the urban and industrial cities they met upon their arrival. Many men became laborers doing dangerous jobs, while the women became maids and laundresses. Often working for lower pay than others.

Sadly, just as they did in England, the Irish faced discrimination and prejudice. Due to their Catholic faith and strong family ties, the Irish had a hard time finding their place in their new home. Signs such as “No Irish Need Apply” were hung in stores. In August of 1855 the nation saw fatal attacks against German and Irish Catholics during “Bloody Monday”. Churches were burned. At this rate, it is hard to understand how America would come to celebrate St. Patrick’s day.

In an attempt to find their place and show their new countrymen that they were valuable members of society, the Irish began joining the military. This came in handy during the Civil War. Over 150,000 Irishmen served in the Union Army.

As a new wave of immigrants other nations arrived during the 1880’s and 1890’s, the Irish began to become more tolerated. More Irish Catholics began voting and started to get Irish Catholics into offices of power. This created a layer of religious protection. The History Channel has an interesting article about Irish Discrimination.

Sadly, the Irish still face discrimination and prejudice in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Negative Irish stereotypes are still depicted in our society as well.

The Rise of St. Patrick’s Day

As more and more Irish came to the American shores, new traditions arrived with them. For most Irish, they celebrated the religious observance of The Feast of St. Patrick.

The first celebration in the U. S. that was recorded took place in Boston in 1737. A group of elite Irish men came to celebrate over dinner. In New York during the 1760’s, the tradition of parading began.

After the Civil War and as a way to display their civic pride and the strength of their identity, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations grew in number. St. Patrick’s Day started to become a hybrid. This can be seen in the speeches that celebrated their Catholicism, pride in their Irish nationalism and their patriotism to their adopted country.

At the end of the 19th century, the day was observed on the streets of major Irish cities such as Boston, Chicago and New York as well as New Orleans, San Francisco and Savannah. Every year the celebrations grew. More cities and more people, including those with no Irish Heritage, began to celebrate.

In 1962 Chicago began coloring its river green to mark the day. Now over 300 landmarks in fifty countries go green on St. Patrick’s Day including the Sydney Opera House. St. Patrick’s Day is proudly celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.

Today’s celebrations generally include parades, festivals, Irish traditional music, wearing green, drinking beer, eating cornbread and cabbage. America’s traditions have finally reached the Irish homeland. Ireland now holds large festivals as a way to bring awareness to all things Ireland.

Traditions

So why green? Originally the color associated with St. Patrick was blue. During the 11th century the color green began to be associated with Ireland. During the 1640’s, the Irish used a harp on a field of green for their Irish Catholic Confederation Flag. It is in the 1680’s that green ribbons and shamrocks were worn on St. Patrick’s Day. Slowly, over time more and more Irish groups used green to display their nationalism.

Shamrocks, are ubiquitous with St. Patrick’s Day. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the trinity to the pagans. There really isn’t much proof of this in historical records. However, the shamrock is a popular symbol associated with Ireland and therefore used in many decorations today. A bowel of shamrocks is a special gift presented to certain groups. The British Royals gift them to the Irish Guards, a regiment in the British Army. The Irish gift them to the US president.

Traditionally St. Patrick’s is a big drinking day. But why? St. Patrick is a saint in the Roman Catholic religion. His feast day falls during the Christian season of Lent. Lent, is a 40 day period of fasting and restraint from drinking. Traditionally during his feast day, Lenten restrictions were lifted for the day. While most people don’t follow Lent as strictly as in the past, people will take any opportunity to party.

The corned beef and cabbage? Well this is a traditional Irish-American dish. Poor and unable to buy better cuts of beef the Irish made do with corned beef. They do eat cabbage in Ireland, but their’s is a slightly different variety than we consume here.

St. Patrick’s Day Events

So now you understand what St. Patrick’s Day and Irish-American Heritage Month are all about. If you are one of the 34 million people in the United States with Irish heritage you may be wondering what is going on in our area.

Checking the internet and social media is the best way to go about finding something to do this weekend and next week. Here are a list of things I found:

• 3/11: Cambria County Library: St. Patrick: His Life, Legend and Legacy. Starts at 5pm.
• 3/13: Food Truck at Flair of Country Catering & Event Facility: Irish Theme Food Truck. Tree plays at 6pm. Coal Country Brewing has beer.
• 3/13-3/15: Seven Springs Irish Weekend
• 3/14-3/17: St. Pat’s Day at Golden Eagle Inn in Bedford.
• 3/14: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Indiana, PA
• 3/16: St. Pat’s & Easter Gnomes Workshop at CACCC.
• 3/16: Celtic Music Concert at Indiana Free Library: 7pm
• 3/17: Tree playing Irish music at Crow’s Nest 7-9pm.
• 3/17: The Evergreens playing at Boulevard Grill Johnstown
• 3/27: Last Friday at the Ethnic Club: Tree playing Irish music.

I am sure there are many other events and specials going on, keep an eye out. If you are going out to celebrate, please be careful. Never drink and drive.