By Kendonisha Reckley, Contributing Writer
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with parades, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green regarding Irish culture and heritage. On St. Patrick’s Day, it’s all green: green clothes, green decorations, and green beer. It is said, however, that if you don’t wear green, you will get pinched!
As reported by National Geographic, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America began as early as 1631. It was initially celebrated as a Catholic Feast Day and gradually evolved into an Irish-American tradition, a humble religious holiday and a way to honor Ireland’s patron saint.
Ireland’s foremost patron saint, St. Patrick, died on Mar. 17, 461 A.D., and the day is now celebrated as his Feast Day. One reason for the large amount of green draped on St. Patrick’s Day is because of the legend that Patrick used the green, three-leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.
Another tale that dates back to the early 1700s states that Irish-Americans held some of the first St. Patrick’s Day parades and created many modern St. Patrick’s Day traditions. Irish-Americans spread folklore about leprechauns.
Leprechauns are tiny, mischievous sprites associated with Irish folklore. They are usually described as little bearded men who wear coats and hats and engage in mischief. Leprechauns are said to be attracted to people wearing green because it makes them invisible. If they didn’t see you wearing green, they would jump out and pinch you.
In Tampa, there will be a celebration for St. Patrick’s Day with a parade called “The Rough Riders.” This show is embedded with Irish pride. It is a giant parade that goes through Ybor City and there are many activities for children such as the St. Patrick’s Day for Kids where there will be 60-minute dance parties for kids with crafts. This takes place on Mar. 12, 2022.
In addition, there will be the River 0′ Green celebration for St. Patrick’s Day where the Hillsborough River will be turned into a bright green color with live entertainment, games, and many other activities, also on Mar. 12, 2022.
At Saint Leo University, many faculty members, students, and alumni are showing their solidarity as they will be traveling to the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York to celebrate.
Dr. Rachel Hernandez, an adjunct instructor at Saint Leo, will be spending her St. Patrick Day at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, bringing the Saint Leo energy to the New York streets.
“Every year, Saint Leo marches in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City, so you’ll have a lot of alumni show up. Dr. Senese is there, a lot of faculty from Saint Leo, and so we normally meet for breakfast on 5th Avenue,” Hernandez said, reflecting on her experience with the parades.
“We’ll start marching at noon, and we have our Saint Leo gear on, and they are every particular. We aren’t allowed to throw candles, and after, we all meet up and have lunch. It’s to have representation of Saint Leo in New York,” she said.
There are also some states that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a big way, such as New York, where a parades and festivities attract nearly millions of spectators. Chicago’s Irish heritage is also celebrated when the Chicago River is dyed emerald green. No matter what day of the week it occurs on, different cities will celebrate this popular holiday with parades, Irish food, and other celebrations.
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the holiday is a celebration of his accomplishments. Irish-Americans have used the holiday to celebrate their culture in the United States. Since then, it has gained more popularity with more people joining the celebration, not just Irish-Americans.
