St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for it’s green food, green costumes, and possibly most importantly, green beer. But, not many people know the actual story of St. Patty’s Day or how it became one of the biggest drinking holidays in the United States.
St. Patrick’s Day is actually a religious holiday named after Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. For Christians, the day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival in Christianity in Ireland.
Originally, blue was the color that was associated with St. Patrick’s Day, but over the years, green became the main color of the holiday. Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity to the pagan Irish, which is how this symbol became synonymous with the holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day is not a legal holiday in the United States, however, it’s celebrated all throughout the country. Parades and drinking were always part of the holiday, though Americans have taken it to another level. The St. Patrick’s Day parade is something that originated not in Ireland, but in America. New York, to be exact, on March 17, 1762.
At Schottenstein Real Estate Group, we want to know how you’re planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Whether in your SRE Group home, or out on the town with friends, have fun and BE SAFE!