By Staff Writer: Jamiliere Luranc Sweeney
The first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in New York City in 1762. Today, the
holiday is celebrated worldwide with parades, music, and traditional Irish foods. While it
has taken on a more festive, secular tone, its origins remain deeply tied to Irish pride and
religious tradition.
St. Patrick’s Day honors the feast day of St. Patrick, the primary patron saint of Ireland.
According to The Confession of St. Patrick, he was taken from Britain at the age of sixteen
and enslaved in Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd. After six years, he escaped and
returned home. Despite the hardships he endured, Patrick later returned to Ireland in the
5th century as a missionary, leading him to being credited with introducing Christianity to
the island and driving all the snakes out.
While St. Patrick helped spread Christianity, the Chronical of the Prosper of Aquitaine and
the Irish annals suggest that Palladius may have arrived in Ireland earlier to serve as a
bishop for existing Christian communities. Additionally, Ireland’s climate during the Ice
Age made it too cold for snakes to ever inhabit the isle, meaning the legend may be an
analogy for driving out paganism.
St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17, believed to be the date of his death. Over time, it
has evolved from a religious feast into a broader celebration of Irish heritage.