By Crystal Smith, Managing Editor
Every year on March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day festivities take place all throughout the United States and beyond, turning the world a shade of green.
Amid the parades, and partying, there’s a rising discussion about what this celebration really means. Should American Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations become less about commercialized events and more about recognizing and appreciating other cultures?
For starters, Saint Patrick, known as the patron saint of Ireland, is traditionally honored on Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick is credited with introducing Christianity to the Emerald Isle. This once-religious gathering is now a celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
However, it has also come to be associated with binge drinking, beer tinted green, and commercialized celebrations in many areas of the world, particularly the United States.
“Since I’ve started my studies here in The United States, I’ve became familiarized with St. Patrick’s Day and its festivities. However, I’m not really aware of its origin or the true meaning of the event”, said Sanyia Armbrister a junior majoring in business accounting.
Even though the colorful festivals and energetic parades are undoubtedly fun, it’s possible to lose sight of the holiday’s actual meaning.
You can learn more about Irish history, customs, and culture rather than just partaking in lighthearted celebrations.
Everyone can have a more meaningful and rewarding time on Saint Patrick’s Day if the emphasis is shifted from commercialization to cultural understanding.
Incorporating education-related elements into the festivities is one approach to bring about this change in attitude. Events showcasing Irish music, dancing, literature, and food can be planned by communities.
Ireland’s rich legacy, from its ancient mythology to its contemporary contributions to the arts and sciences, can be explored through workshops, speeches, and exhibitions.
It is also critical to embrace the diversity of Irish culture. Ireland is a population with a rich history and a diversified population; it is more than just leprechauns and four-leaf clovers.
It will take teamwork to change the emphasis of Saint Patrick’s Day festivities. It means giving genuine cultural experiences priority over the overindulgent materialism that frequently surrounds the festival. This could entail encouraging appropriate alcohol usage and redesigning customary celebrations to incorporate more educational elements.
Involving the Irish community in the planning and execution of celebrations is also crucial. Rather than promoting preconceptions or mimics, their thoughts and insights may guarantee that the activities are respectful of and reflective of Irish culture.
Saint Patrick’s Day is a time for festivities and celebration, but it’s also a chance to learn more about and appreciate Irish culture.
We can make sure that this festival has relevance for future generations by reorienting the focus from commercialized spectacles to cultural knowledge.
Let us salute St. Patrick with a true acceptance of our Irish culture and heritage, not merely with green beer and green decorations!
