6 Bizarre Facts About St. Patrick's Day Celebration on March 17

Saint Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious festival that is celebrated on 17 March to mark the death anniversary of the holy saint who spread the message of Christianity in Ireland. While it is not a public holiday in Australia but many natives come together to remember the life and achievements of the saint. The day brings an opportunity to celebrate Irish culture and tradition in Australia. It is marked by wearing green, feasting on seafood, and drinking popular Irish drinks.The colour green, pots of gold, shamrock, and leprechaun are often associated with the celebration. Read on further to know some interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day:

Saint Patrick was not an Irish

Although we remember St. Patrick as the one who introduced Christianity to the people of Ireland in the year 432, he wasn’t Irish himself. As per legends, he was born to Roman parents in Scotland during the late fourth century. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by a group of Irish raiders who took him to Ireland. For the next six years, he led the life of a slave. Then one day, he heard the voice of God which directed him to the nearby coast. He managed to escape from there, and at the coast, he found a ship that helped him return to his home. But again he got a message from an angel who instructed him to return back to Ireland and spread the message of Christianity. Patrick traveled the country for 40 years, and he died on March 17, 461.

We should really wear blue

Although we celebrate the day by wearing green, Saint Patrick wore blue clothes. So traditionally, the colour blue was associated with the day. However, in the late 18th century, Irish people started wearing green attires during parades as it symbolizes their nationalism and independence. Over time, green become so emblematic of St. Patrick that people started wearing green, drinking green beer, and of course, dyeing the Chicago River green to mark the holiday.

Shamrock is an auspicious symbol

Shamrock is a traditional symbol of this auspicious day. Many claims that it represents faith, hope, and love. And gifting it to someone brings good luck. The fact is that St. Patrick used the three-leafed clover to teach how the father, the son, and the holy spirit could be separate entities, yet one in the same. For this reason, the symbol and motif of this wonderful plant are often displayed proudly in Irish parades and celebrations.

It used to be a dry holiday

Until the mid 20th century, Saint Patrick’s Day was a strictly religious holiday in Ireland. And, drinking bear at public places was strictly prohibited. In 1970, when the day was announced as a national holiday, festivities took a new level with more grand parades, feats, and pubs selling green wines.

The first Saint Patrick’s Day parade

Although most of us think that the tradition of parade started from Ireland, this is not the fact. The world’s first Saint Patrick's Day Parade took place in Boston on March 18, 1737. The culture was then imbibed by many states in the UK and USA. Ireland took over a century to adopt this tradition and organised its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the year 1931.

History of St. Patrick’s Day in Australia

In 1810, Australia celebrated the St. Patrick’s Day for the first time when Lachlan Macquarie, the Governor of New South Wales, organised its feast and parade for Irish convict workers. Since then, the day is celebrated all over the nation with great pomp and show. In 2010, the Sydney Opera House was clad in green lights to marks the 200th anniversary of the day.

Hope you enjoyed reading these interesting facts about St. Patrick’s Day. We wish that the day be filled with lots of happiness and laughter. And, if your pending assignments are not letting you indulge in the festivities, then seek help from our assignment writing experts. As we are aware of the fact that the celebration might imbalance your budget, so we offer up to 30% discount on each assignment order.