Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Many people associate St. Patrick and St. Patrick’s Day with the colour green, dyed beer, and raucous parties. Historically, especially in Ireland, it was a more sombre religious festival, celebrating St. Patrick, who legend tells explained the Catholic Holy Trinity by using a three-leaf shamrock, memorializing the shamrock as a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.
Modern St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are significantly different. The holiday we celebrate in North America came from the Irish diaspora, morphing over the years into what we have now. The first Canadian St. Patrick’s Day parade was celebrated in Montreal in 1824. These parades are not without controversy – Toronto banned them in 1878 due to clashes between Catholics and Protestants and did not hold another until 110 years later, in 1988. Since then, parades continue to be held annually across the country on March 17.
This year, we may not get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade or going out with friends like usual. Instead, we have some recommendations for having a traditional St. Patrick’s Day at home and how to use this day to learn a little more about Ireland and the 4.6 million Canadians who share some Irish ancestry.
Recreate the Parade
If your favourite aspect of St. Patrick’s Day is the parade then there are countless video broadcasts online of parades from years past that you can watch and enjoy from the comfort and safety of your home — green, white, and orange face paint and Irish bagpipes optional.
Bring the Pub to You
Flip over to our culinary section! This month we have featured tons of classic Irish recipes, including Soda bread, Irish Stew, and a delicious Irish Coffee, which, while not invented in Ireland, features exceptional Irish whiskey that beats dyed-green beer any day.
Immerse Yourself in the Culture
Ireland has so much to offer, and St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect day to explore the culture which is rich in history, food, art, dance and music. If you’re after something a bit more modern there is so is plenty of amazing Irish cinema and television (including the Channel 4 phenomenon Derry Girls, which you can watch in Canada on Netflix).
Make St. Patrick’s Day your own this year, whether you’re one of the millions of Canadians with Irish roots or are learning about Irish culture for the first time.
FUN FACT
The flag of Ireland has two colours divided by a white bar that symbolizes peace. The orange is for the Ulster Irish or the Orangemen, Protestants who make up a significant part of the Northern Irish population, while the green represents the Roman Catholic Irish population.
ADAMO NEST
