To begin with, Saint Patrick, the “Apostle of Ireland”, who is the namesake of everyone’s favorite green holiday, was actually born in Britain. Patrick was taken to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery and worked as a shepherd (herding goats, hopefully). He spent six years in captivity, where he found Christianity. Even though the holiday originates in Ireland, the original Saint Patrick wasn’t even Irish – he was English. “Furthermore, most of the people who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day now do not understand its cultural significance”.
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But ask a Guinness-soaked green-clad publican who St Patrick was and, at best, you might draw an incoherent answer about the Emerald Isle’s snake-free pastures.
Thousands of people will celebrate St Patrick’s Day by watching leprechaun porn.
“I just decorate me”. I mean, her only real concern was whether my answer involved her getting presents or candy, but I’ll admit, I was stumped on what to say. “Thus, St. Patrick’s Day is, in fact, an example of subtle cultural appropriation”.
Every year, the president of Ireland sends the US president a crystal bowl filled with shamrocks, in honor of the holiday.
Richard Hazeldine, owner of Our Backyard Pub and the chairman of the Rotorua Central Liquor Accord, said that while his pub wasn’t doing anything special this year they wished everyone a happy St Patrick’s Day.
“In many ways, the commercialization that characterizes the American culture tends to distract from the original meaning behind holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day because it’s too inflated”, he said.
St Patrick is supposed to have used the shamrock to teach the Irish about the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
Popular venues around the town are getting ready to host festivities and raise a glass or two to Ireland’s patron saint.
Fox Business Network’s Laura Simonetti breaks down the business of Saint Patrick’s Day.
If you’re lucky enough to be in our lovely country tomorrow, then this timelapse video from last St Patrick’s Day will tell you whether you think Dublin’s tourist district of Temple Bar is the place to be or the place to avoid tomorrow.
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Traditionally, March 17 is believed to be the date on which St Patrick died in the fifth century.
