You may have heard of St. Patrick’s day, but you may not know its true meaning. When we were younger, we saw St. Patrick’s Day as the day we wore green to school, but there is a hidden story to it that many Americans don’t know or recognize. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was kidnapped at the age of 16 and became a slave. He escaped and came back to convert the Irish to Christianity. Before he died on March 17, 461, he had established Christian monasteries, churches and schools around Ireland. To me St. Patricks day is a ture holiday where we can celebrate irish culture.
Senior elementary education major Rebecca O’Connell said she celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with her family because both sides are Irish. O’Connell’s great-grandfather was an Irish immigrant, and ever since he came to America, her family has kept their tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day every year. O’Connell said, “It’s basically like Thanksgiving in March.” O’Connell explained that her family gets together and makes corned beef and cabbage noodles every year. They also make potato pancakes.They make sure to take time and thank St. Patrick. To end the day they watch a movie based on St. Patrick “The Irish Legend.” O’Connell explained that her favorite legend was the story of the three leaf clover and how some of the Irish believed it stood for the trinity, what Christians believe is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Although some Americans may celebrate St. Patrick’s Day without knowing the story behind it, it is a day to cherish and bring people together because every culture has their traditions and what better way to celebrate with them and unite everyone together, whether you celebrate big or small.