by Brigid Ismail

Created on: March 06, 2009   Last Updated: February 18, 2011

St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday in Ireland as well as being a holy day of observation for Catholics. Since Ireland is predominantly a Catholic country, St. Patrick's Day is first and foremost a religious holiday. The shamrock is worn proudly and everyone dresses for Mass early in the day. Cards received from family and friends are displayed in the parlor.

St. Patrick's Day usually falls during the fasting season of Lent when eating meat is prohibited and everyone gives up something. On St. Patrick's Day, a dispensation is given in Ireland to eat meat and to indulge in what was given up for Lent. As children, we always had to give up sweets for Lent and it was always such a treat to be able to eat candy on St. Patrick's Day. The most affordable special dinner is cooked on that day. It is not corned beef and cabbage which is really an Irish American version of the traditional bacon and cabbage dinner. The bacon and cabbage may be served or it could be roast beef or Irish stew. It is really a day for family and friends to celebrate together.

Until the 1970s, pubs in Ireland were closed on this day but now that they are open, a visit to the local pub in the evening is often warranted. In the pub there will be songs, stories and dancing. In city pubs, there is often a band but in the local country pubs, the good singers of the area will sing traditional Irish songs. As closing time approaches, the locals who are tone deaf will be getting up to sing. At this point, everyone will join in and if the weather is dry, the party will continue on the street after the pub closes.

In Dublin, the capital of Ireland, the celebrations are more sophisticated and go on for days. There is a parade on the 17th and in the days preceding and following there are concerts and fireworks displays. There may also be outdoor theater productions.

Ireland has changed in the past few decades but before the 1970s; when I lived there, preparation for St. Patrick's Day started in early March. We would search for the best shamrocks growing in the fields and they would be wrapped and sent to our relatives in America and Scotland. It was almost as exciting as the Advent season which precedes Christmas. We would be getting a day off from school; we looked forward to eating sweets and we would get cards from abroad. We shopped for special cards to send with the shamrocks as well as prepared for our special dinner. In those days, it was a family-oriented and religious day. It has become more celebratory but in Ireland, it is still a very religious day.

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