1 of 9

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

by an Act of Parliament. Following that, another law was passed requiring pubs to be closed on March 17th; an Act that was only repealed in 1970, even though the first St Patrick's Day parade was held in Dublin in 1931. And while the celebrations in Ireland have taken on a secular tone, St Patrick's Day is still first and foremost a religious observance, which both the Church of Ireland and the Catholic Church hold sacred.

Irish Immigrants to the United States were the first to introduce the St Patrick's Day celebrations to the world. The first parade and popular observance was in 1737 in Boston Massachusetts. Some sources place the first recorded parade in New York in 1762. The Boston St. Patrick's Day parade of 1737 was organized by the Charitable Irish Society of Boston, while the 1762 New York parade was organized by Irish soldiers who were members of the British Army. These soldiers were given a holiday on March 17th by George Washington, commander of the Irish contingent of the Continental Army.

Today St Patrick's Day is celebrated by both Irish and non- Irish, Catholics, Anglicans and protestants, and even non-Christians. You can find celebrations all over North America and as far as China and New Zealand. Even Montserrat in the Caribbean celebrates St Patrick's Day which is a national holiday there. For many who don't even know the origins of St Patrick's Day, it is merely a time for festivities, eating Irish food, drinking Irish Beer and wearing Green.

Learn more about this author, Joan Schroeder.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about The origins of St. Patrick's Day?
We want to hear your view. Write now!