Culture

St. Patrick's Day Made in America? Irish Heritage Lauded in USA

by Tina Kells | March 17, 2009 at 11:05 am

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St. Patrick's Day occurs on a Catholic feast day honoring one of Ireland's most famous patron Saints so it may be surprising to learn that less than half a century ago the observance was a relatively minor event in the Emerald Isle.

Originally for Irish Catholics St. Patrick's Day was little more than a minor feast day marked by a family dinner, a visit to church, and some prayers. It wasn't until the 1970's that it became the celebration of green drenched fun and festivities we know it as today. That is when Ireland began to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with some real flare.

Until the 1970s, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland was a minor religious holiday. A priest would acknowledge the feast day, and families would celebrate with a big meal, but that was about it.

"St. Patrick's Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans," Freeman said.

Timothy Meagher is an expert on Irish-American history at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

He said Irish charitable organizations originally celebrated St. Patrick's Day with banquets in places such as Boston, Massachusetts; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina.

True Irish traditions around St. Patrick's Day are not as flamboyant or exciting as the North American practices although the day has caught on world wide. The modern St. Patrick's Day is an excuse to have a few drinks and socialize with friends and neighbours even though the original observance was about church and family.

In North America however, St. Patrick's Day celebrations have always been a big deal for Irish-American immigrants. What started as a way to raise funds for Irish Catholic churches in the US or families back home grew into the festive public celebrations we know today.

Some of the US cities with the biggest St. Patrick's Day Celebrations have clear Irish roots but others just really know how to throw a party. The biggest and best of the North American St. Patrick's Day celebrations can be found in these cities: