Four-leaf clovers and leprechauns are some of the most common symbols that come up when Saint Patrick’s Day comes to mind. However, some groups have annual traditions that dive deeper into the history of this day.
My own family tends to go all out with our celebrations by having a meal of corned beef and cabbage and spending the day wearing a full green outfit. If you find someone in the clan who isn’t decked out, it is well within your rights to go in for a pinch to remind them of their commitment to the day. One year, my grandmother even went as far as to make family shirts claiming our Irish heritage. Aunts and uncles show up with green frosted cupcakes, and cousins arrive with golden chocolate coins for the kids. In past years, we have made leprechaun traps with my younger cousin to introduce him to older family traditions and the family culture.
In some American cities, celebrations of Saint Patrick’s Day fill the city with green and gold as parades march downtown and gather crowds all around. Chicago has a unique tradition of dyeing its central river green for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on the Saturday before the holiday. This year, the river was dyed on Saturday, March 15th, and kept its green hue until the following Monday, when it returned to its usual blue color. This tradition began in 1955 and has stuck ever since.
New York City also has a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which is known to be the oldest and largest annual celebration parade worldwide, drawing over 150,000 participants and 2 million spectators. Proud Irish immigrants who felt a strong connection to their heritage and wished to continue to show this in their new country began the parade tradition in 1762.
When I asked students about their own family traditions and superstitions, I was unable to find anyone who continued to celebrate the day of luck any further than sporting green clothing for the day; however, many reminisced about previous holiday celebrations. Students told stories taking us back to their early childhoods when teachers would create leprechaun traps with the whole class and have activities counting gold coins to eventually find the pot at the end of the rainbow with the leprechaun’s treasure of chocolate coins.
Saint Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that is very hit or miss in popularity, but keep in mind that regardless of your beliefs, not wearing green won’t keep you safe from a pinch from any of the mischievous redheads in your life.
