On March 17, people from all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Irish traditions, parades, and food. What once began as a religious holiday celebrated in Ireland, erupted into a nationwide celebration in the USA, bringing friends and family together.
A sophomore at NVD, Julia Cervino, explains what St. Patrick’s Day means to her and her family, as someone who is Irish.
“To me, since my mother is Irish, it has a little bit of a deeper meaning than other individuals. While it is a super fun holiday, it also allows me to connect back with my family through traditions and celebrations,” Cervino said.
Lauren O’Neill, a sophomore, explains the traditions she follows while being of Irish descent.
“I feel a deep connection to Ireland because my grandmother, who I lived with for a long time, immigrated from Ireland. I believe in some Irish superstitions because this year my Irish claddagh ring broke, which caused me to have bad luck with some relationships I cherished. I also have many Irish mannerisms with my family,” O’Neill said.
However, people don’t just have to be Irish to celebrate the holiday. A sophomore in high school, Olivia Carpenter, explains some traditions she practices when St. Patrick’s Day starts to come around, even for those who aren’t Irish.
“Im not Irish, but I like watching the St. Patty’s Day Parade they have in New York City with my family,” Carpenter said.
Other than entertainment, food plays a big role in every holiday, and St. Patrick’s Day is known for its Irish dishes and foods eaten around the world.
“The food I like to eat on Saint Patrick’s Day is sourdough bread with butter, and rosemary on top sometimes. We also make these really good potatoes, it’s kind of like tradition in my house to eat them on the holiday,” Carpenter said.
The social and commercial aspects of St. Patrick’s Day are also what make the holiday so cherished. Families get together, and teenagers go out to celebrate with their friends.
“Every year I partake in little traditions like wearing green or joining in on the celebrations. Whether I am going out to a party or just hanging out with family or friends, it is always super fun,” Cervino said.
Partying is really popular when celebrating the holiday, even in Ireland; but, it often allows for many to forget about the religious side of the holiday and what it means.
“I don’t think many people care if it is commercialized, and it really is important to know the religious aspect,” O’Neill said.
St. Patrick’s Day is a Catholic holiday that originated from the death of Saint Patrick on March 17, in the year 461. Saint Patrick was a Christian who spread the religion into Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day started as a quiet religious holiday, but it became bigger because of the way it brings people together.
“I think the social aspect of the holiday is pretty important and usually the highlight of the day for me. I think it just makes the holiday a lot more exciting than some others and is overall really enjoyable,” Cervino said.
