How Saint Patrick’s Day Became the Brew-Ha-Holiday It Is Today
- by Matthew McNairy, March 12, 2011
St. Patrick’s Day brings parades, green-dyed rivers and canals, green beers, and celebration all around the world. It calls out the Irish in those who can’t track the slightest bit of Irish heritage in their family lineage. St. Patrick’s Day started as a feast day to honor the man who brought Christianity to Ireland and drove pagans off the Emerald Isle. March 17th marks the death of St. Patrick and became recognized as a holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church. It falls annually during the Catholic Lenten season, a period of sacrifice of creature comforts leading up to Easter.
The church members would close work each March 17th to attend church services to honor Ireland’s most famous patron saint. Then when mass was over, church members took a “free” day during this time of penance to kick back a few pints and celebrate. In the mid-1700’s, Irish immigrants to the United States used this day to parade the streets of Boston and New York City to express their political frustrations with the lack of work for their people. New York City’s parade remains the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the world.
The pints and parades go on bigger and greener than ever. Indianapolis’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebration lines up along the parade with a tent party complete with a beer garden and live music. Here are a few highlight events to join in the Irish cheer in the Circle City on March 17th:
- Greening of the Canal – 6:00 a.m. at the Canal Walk near Ohio and West Streets
- 31st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade – 11:30 a.m. Be sure to check the parade route to find your best viewing spot.
- Maybe hit a Roman Catholic mass – Check with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for a list of parishes and masses.
Pint Time! Top 5 GroundFloor Suggestions:
- Claddagh Irish Pub Downtown – Check them out on Facebook.
- Northside Claddagh Irish Pub – Pub opens at 10:00 a.m.
- St. Patrick’s Day Tent Party @ Connors Pub (Broad Ripple) 3:00 p.m.-2:30 a.m.
- The Golden Ace – 33 E. Washington St.
- Pat Flynn’s at 52nd and Allisonville for a more laid-back celebration
Sources: History.com and Wikipedia.com
Here is a 3-minute video from History.com on St. Patrick’s Day.