Who invented st. patricks day

In a leprechaun -worthy shenanigan, Chicago even dyes its river green. Revelers from coast to coast celebrate all things Irish by hoisting pints of Guinness and cheering bagpipers, step dancers and marching bands parading through city streets. They were made in America. In contrast to the merry-making in the United States, March 17 has been more holy day than holiday in Ireland.

Since , St. For several centuries, March 17 was a day of solemnity in Ireland with Catholics attending church in the morning and partaking of modest feasts in the afternoon.

Patrick's Day Myths Debunked. Boston has long staked claim to the first St. On March 17, , more than two dozen Presbyterians who emigrated from the north of Ireland gathered to honor St. Patrick and form the Charitable Irish Society to assist distressed Irishmen in the city.

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Related Stories. Already a print subscriber? Go here to link your subscription. Basically, it was a day to eat and drink as much as you please in celebration, hence the traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage.

But imbibing on whiskey and beer was not part of the equation. In fact, pubs in Ireland were forced by law to shut down for the holiday until later in the 20th century, and drinking alcohol on St. Then, a huge marketing push from Budweiser in the 80s convinced thirsty revelers that drinking beer and St.

Much like Cinco de Mayo , many people now use the holiday as an excuse to binge drink, which fosters negative stereotypes by incorrectly associating the act of getting wasted with Irish culture.

But, at least now you can take a swig of your Guinness in pride because you know the real story. This is believed to be inaccurate , and the exact whereabouts of his birthplace are uncertain. This story was originally published in March and was updated to meet Lifehacker style guidelines. Did you volunteer to write this article? Or were you forced to because your name is Patrick? Homeschooler Melissa Bragg Sack shares her St. Patrick's Day Unit posted on Network Blogs.

Banner Image. Section Branding. Header Content The Origins of St. Hero Image. Primary Content St. History: Patrick's birthname was Maewyn. Fun Facts: The shamrock: According to legend St. Activities: Here are some links to activities and lesson plans on St. Patrick's Day.