Politics
When is St Patrick’s Day 2021 and why do we celebrate it?
ST PATRICK’S DAY is back as Irish people from around the world celebrate the special occasion.
It is the most popular Saint Day with parades and a sea of green taking over towns and cities, namely in Ireland and USA.
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17[/caption]
When is St Patrick’s Day 2021?
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17.
The day only became a national holiday in Ireland in 1903. It is also a bank holiday in Northern Ireland.
The national holiday has been commemorated for over 1,000 years however, the first public celebration is up for debate.
Some argue that the first parade was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737 while others argue that the first official parade was held in New York in 1762.
Either way, across the world every year, people come together to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.
St Patrick’s Day is Ireland’s national holiday[/caption]
Why do we celebrate St Patrick’s Day?
St Patrick’s Day is the annual celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick.
According to the myth, Saint Patrick was kidnapped from the UK and brought over to Ireland in the fifth century, aged just 16.
St Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and according to legend, he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of the shamrock.
The reason the day is celebrated all over the world is due to Ireland’s diaspora and the country’s mass historical emigration.
Between 1845 and 1854 two million people were forced to leave Ireland due to the potato famine.
They travelled to the United States, the UK and Canada where the national holiday is continued to be celebrated.
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How can I celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2021?
This year due to the coronavirus pandemic the UK’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations are not going ahead.
However, you can celebrate with your bubble at home or organise a zoom party with family and friends.
You can commemorate the day by making popular Irish food including soda bread, coddle and bacon and cabbage.
Contrary to popular belief, corned beef is not a traditional Irish recipe but is commonly enjoyed by Irish Americans to celebrate the day.
And of course it should all be washed down with a glass – or two – of Guinness.
