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The Quirky History Behind Your Favourite Excuse To Drink – St Patrick’s Day

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Every year on 17th March, people all over the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, including here in Malta, where islanders take the day off and drink until oblivion.

It’s a celebration marked by parades, green beer, and other (hedonistic) revelries. But have you ever wondered about the origins of this boozy festive occasion? Where does it come from, and why do we celebrate it?

It all began in the 5th century. Saint Patrick was born in Britain and was captured by Irish raiders at the age of 16.

He was taken to Ireland, where he spent six years in captivity as a shepherd. During this time, he found solace in his faith and began a spiritual journey that would eventually make him one of Ireland’s most celebrated figures.

After escaping captivity, Patrick returned to Britain, but he soon had a vision that called him to return to Ireland as a missionary. He spent 30 years travelling around the country, preaching and baptising.

By the time of his death in the early 5th century, he had converted thousands of people to Christianity.

But here’s the twist: the first celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day didn’t take place in Ireland at all.

They actually took place in Boston, Massachusetts! In 1737, the Irish Society of Boston hosted the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, making it the oldest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the United States.

Soon after, Saint Patrick’s Day became a popular holiday among Irish immigrants living in the United States. It was a way for them to celebrate their heritage and connect with others who had come from Ireland. This quickly spread to other parts of the world, including Canada and Australia.

Interestingly enough, Saint Patrick’s Day has only been an official public holiday in Ireland since 1903.

Until then, it was a religious holiday that was celebrated quietly by attending church services and abstaining from alcohol.

So, how did Saint Patrick’s Day become such a drink-driven festive occasion? Well, that can be attributed to the Irish-American tradition of turning everything into a party.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Irish Americans began hosting massive Saint Patrick’s Day parades in cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

These parades featured elaborate floats, marching bands, and people dressed in green, which became associated with the holiday thanks to Ireland’s lush, green landscapes. As the parades grew larger and more popular, the celebrations spilt out into bars and taverns, and the consumption of alcohol became an integral part of the holiday.

Today, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated in different ways. In Ireland, it is still a religious holiday, but it is also a day for families to come together and enjoy traditional Irish food and music.

In the United States and other countries, it has become a day for people to celebrate Irish culture, regardless of their ancestry. Parades, concerts, and festivals are now held all over the world, and millions of people don green clothing and accessories to show their support.

In Malta, we grab everything green from our wardrobes, head out to St. Julian’s and give our livers a really good workout.

So, there you have it – the quirky and unexpected origins of Saint Patrick’s Day. From a captive shepherd to a beloved saint, this holiday has come quite a long way over the centuries.

So, raise a glass of green beer and cheers to Saint Patrick, the Irish-American tradition, and the many ways we can come get crunked together in celebration.

How will you be celebrating St Patrick’s Day?

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Sam is a journalist, artist and writer based in Malta. Send her pictures of hands or need-to-know stories on politics or art on [email protected].

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