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On St. Patrick's Day, Everyone is Irish

  • Published
  • By Daniel Simmons
  • 92nd ARW Historian
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Every year on March 17 we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Normally this ritual involves attending parades, wearing green, eating Irish food and drinking green beer. But who was St. Patrick and what is all the hoopla about? 

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday. St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born to Catholic parents around the year 385 in Britain. His father was a nobleman and a deacon, but Patrick's privileged life ended at the age of 16 when he was captured by slave raiders from Ireland. Relegated to a harsh life, Patrick's faith flourished as he turned to God in prayer. After being held captive for six years, Patrick dedicated his life to converting the Irish to Christianity. 

During his 30 years in Ireland, Patrick founded more than 300 churches. After a lifetime of Christian service, he died on March 17, 461. By the end of the 7th century, many legends about Patrick evolved, including his charming of all snakes in Ireland, leading them to the sea to drown. 

Probably the most popular legend involves the shamrock. It is believed that Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity to unbelievers. This is probably why the shamrock, Ireland's national flower, is worn by the Irish on St. Patrick's Day. 

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was in Boston in 1737. It is interesting to note that the first St. Patrick's Day parade occurred in America and not in Ireland. In 1762 in New York City, Irish soldiers in the English military marched through the city in an attempt to reconnect with their heritage. As more Irish immigrants came to this country, the parades were a show of strength for Irish Americans. 

The Irish influence on America increased in the mid 1800s as Ireland suffered through the Great Potato Famine of 1845-49. The famine claimed the lives of one-million people in Ireland and forced many Irish to emigrate to the United States to escape starvation. The influx of large numbers of Irish immigrants bolstered the celebrations of St. Patrick's Day throughout the United States. 

Ireland, on the other hand, does not have a long history of American-style celebrations of the holiday. Prior to the 1970s, since St. Patrick's Day was primarily a religious holiday, law prohibited pubs being open on March 17, the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick. This changed in the mid 90s when the government began using the occasion as a way to enhance tourism and to showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. 

Today, the Irish-American culture has become an important part of our American heritage. Since our nation was forged from a melting pot of so many different nationalities, it is always great to take time and celebrate the contributions of people who have helped make this country great. 

On St. Patrick's Day, there's a little bit of Irish in all of us. For those of you on active duty, please remember to wear your flight suits or your BDUs so you don't get pinched. For you civilians and retirees, break out your best green attire. As you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, may you all enjoy the luck of the Irish.