Photo credit: Granite Hills Animal Care
As Canadians, we like to show our support for others.
If there’s a party, we are there with our bells on, always ready for a good time.
St. Paddy’s Day is no exception.
This Irish occasion brings out droves of enthusiasts who typically cover themselves in everything green, guzzle gallons of green beer and honour four-leaf clovers and mischievous leprechauns.
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It’s all the stereotypical awesomeness that Ireland is known for, but what’s it really all about?
St. Patrick’s Day is actually a public holiday in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and a renowned festivity for the rest of the country.
It is celebrated in more countries worldwide than any other national holiday.
So it's kind of a big deal.
Photo credit: Ziggy the Traveling Piggy
If you’re an observant human, you probably noticed the apparent misspelling of St. Paddy’s a little ways above in this article.
Well, you thought wrong.
The spelling was intentional.
Let it be known, the Irish want this offensive spelling habit eradicated. It is actually St. Paddy’s and not Patty’s because the Irish name for Patrick is spelled Pádraig with a D, not a T.
In Ireland, people can get quite uppity about it, as Patty is nickname for Patricia, or a slang word for a burger.
So use it properly and impress your friends with some factual information this St. Paddy’s Day.
Anyways, linguistics aside, we all know St. Patrick’s Day as an Irish tradition, but as to its origins, it’s anyone’s guess.
For those of you who are curious about the history of St. Patty’s Day, you’ve come to the right place.
The tradition began on March 17, 1631, as a religious celebration marking the death of Saint Patrick nearly 12 centuries prior.
He was an exemplary missionary and bishop, infiltrating the word of God into the hearts of many.
Photo credit: Your Irish Culture
Largely due to his efforts, the druid state of Ireland transformed into a cultured community of Christians.
The notion of luck so associated with the occasion is suspected to have roots in Saint Patrick’s apparent escape from prison.
He became a captive as a Roman citizen in Rome, which was modern day Britain at the time. He was then sent to Ireland, making either a crafty escape or brilliantly devised his own release. Historians are unclear on the matter.
Either way- Saint Patrick is one lucky guy avoiding all the punitive turmoil of such a merciless era.
So, get your green hat on, head out on the town in honour of the man himself.
Or just marvel in your good luck and pinch a few people in the process.
How will you celebrate St. Paddy’s Day this year?
