March 17th, 2010 
JoAnn Guida 
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
There are an estimated 70 million people world-wide who can claim Irish heritage. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th as this is traditionally known at the day St. Patrick died in C. 493. The people of Ireland, for centuries, noted this day as a solemn religious event, by attending mass, perhaps wearing green and sporting a shamrock but not much more.
One of the early references to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in America was noted by the Charitable Irish Society which was founded on St. Patrick’s day in Boston, 1737.
In 1762 in New York City, an Irishman, John Marshall, has a party at his house and the guests that attended marched as a group to his house to honor St. Patrick’s Day. It became know as the unofficial “parade.” It was actually 1766 in New York, when the first recorded true parade took place. It has been held every year since with few exceptions.
Image via Wikipedia
In America today massive St. Patrick’s Day parades are celebrated in New York, Boston and Chicago. In Chicago the river is made green in honor of the Irish.
Another interesting thing about St. Patrick’s day is finding or catching a Leprechaun (it is said they would give you gold). This event could only take place in Ireland.
There is also the saying, “The Luck of the Irish” which may have come from their natural fighting skills of their descendants who were great Celtic and Viking fighters and invaders. They had natural fighting skills that helped them survive and became know as “The Luck of the Irish.”
Whether you are Irish or not – let’s all celebrate today and watch how much Green Beer you drink – who knows may be you will find a Leprechaun and have “The Luck of the Irish” and get a pot of Gold.
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