St. Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century A.D., but it took until the 1960s for Ireland to start celebrating it like Americans. But how did this holiday arrive on American shores, and why did it turn into a wild party over here while the Irish observed it as a religious occasion? For that, we can blame the British — which is an Irish custom all by itself.
According to the Smithsonian, Irish soldiers, many of them indentured servants, introduced the holiday to the original 13 colonies as early as 1762 — the same year that the first St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in New York City. The parade tradition continued past independence and through the decades, growing in scope and size and party opportunities as Irish immigrants poured into the U.S. and established the largest Irish diaspora outside of Ireland.
But while Irish-Americans partied in green getups and waved shamrocks around, the situation in Ireland was comparatively bleak. British authorities banned green clothing because of its association with Irish revolutionaries, and American-style public gatherings to celebrate Irish pride were simply not on the menu. Thus, the St. Patrick's Day that Americans recognize and love is largely a product of immigrant imaginations, mixed with healthy doses of American capitalism and our national appreciation for excellent parties.
St. Patrick's Day still remains a solemn religious occasion for many observant Catholics in Ireland, but blowout parties have gained in popularity in recent decades — partly to attract tourists, and partly because they're tons of fun.
Whether you're Irish or not, when you attend a St. Patrick's Day celebration, let yourself enjoy every piece of it, no matter how corny or weird or outlandish it is. Because centuries ago, Irish people — perhaps even your ancestors — fought to preserve that piece of their homeland and pass it down with pride.
