Tall green hats, necklaces that resemble four leaf clovers and endless options of Green attire. Saint Patrick’s day is a celebration that dates back to the mid-17th century to honor the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick’s day is not as widely celebrated as other holidays; however it can be a special time for family and friends who do partake in its festivities. To celebrate this day people often attend Saint Patrick’s day parades. Typically the parades involve people drinking Irish beers such as Guinness or Jameson, dressing similar to leprechauns and playing the signature bagpipes and drums as they march through the lively streets.
The significance of wearing green on this eventful day is in connection to the belief that it would make people invisible to Leprechauns. The Four leaf clover is a symbol of good luck and is believed to ward off malicious spirits.
New York holds a large parade that has hundreds of thousands attendees to share the tradition. Dylan Maloney, a senior, shares his experience celebrating Saint Patrick’s day at a young age: “The parades were fun. I wasn’t a fan of the bagpipes, but I liked the bubble gun they sold in toy carts.”
He goes on to say that he enjoyed the traditional soda bread they sold. Soda bread is often described as crumbly. It received its name from the main ingredient being baking soda.
Additional foods that are a part of Irish tradition include corned beef, fried cabbage, and Irish stew. These foods each hold its significance in history as they originated from Irish immigrants and aided with the famine.