In Boston, Saint Patrick’s Day is a very popular holiday. Since Massachusetts is the nation’s most Irish state, it would make sense that Boston had one of the top celebrations. This year, on Sunday, March 15 all of the people of Boston will crowd into South Boston to watch the big parade in their emerald green outfits! The parade is an excellent opportunity for hosts to show their students what Boston life is all about! But before you go, here’s a little bit of background on this green holiday.
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Saint Patrick’s day occurs every 17th of March, which is the death date of the most recognized patron saint in Ireland, Saint Patrick. This holiday began hundreds of years ago in the 17th century, and is a feast day that commemorates Christianity in Ireland. For those of you who participate in lent, the Lenten restrictions are lifted on this day! But why is he celebrated? Well, from what we know, Patrick converted the pagan Irish to Christianity. Tradition holds that he died on March 17, and centuries later he is still Ireland’s foremost saint.
As we all know, Saint Patrick’s day is customary to wearing emerald green and shamrocks. The reason for this being, when Saint Patrick described the holy trinity to the pagan Irish, he used a shamrock. The color green is not a new association with Ireland, as it’s been a symbolic color since the 16th century.
Saint Patrick’s day, though not a national holiday, is celebrated widely throughout the United States. In fact, the only county that recognizes Saint Patrick’s day as a legal holiday is Boston’s own Suffolk County! Boston, however, celebrates Saint Patrick’s day not only for the traditional meaning behind the holiday, but another reason as well. During the Revolutionary War, on March 17, 1776, the British soldiers saw a line of 55 American cannons at Dorchester Heights, and left Boston. The password for safe passage through the lines at that time was “Saint Patrick.”
There are so many ways and reasons to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day this season, and what better way to do so than enjoying it with your visitor?! Make sure they’re wearing green, and head out the weekend of March 14 to enjoy all kinds of Irish festivities.
What is your favorite way to celebrate this lucky holiday? Let us know!
