History of St. Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick who lived in the fifth century was kidnapped at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland as a slave. He escaped and returned to Ireland where he brought Christianity to the people. One of the well known legend about St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three cloves of the Irish Shamrock. Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Since the 9th or 10th century people in Ireland observe the Roman Catholic feast day St. Patrick on March 17th. The first parade was celebrated in the United Stated the Irish soldiers serving in the English military matched through New York City. During this time music was playing and the soldiers reconnected their Irish roots and with other Irishmen serving in the English army. Up until the 19 century many Irish in the U.S. were Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit in Ireland in 1945, over 1 million uneducated Irish flooded the U.S. to escape starvation that was occurring in Ireland. Many of them couldn't find work even menial jobs. On St. Patrick's Day they would take to streets and drink and they were portrayed as drunks. They did become aware that their population were huge in numbers and started to create political power. They started an organization known as the"green machine." The annual parades became power of strength for the Irish Americans and many political candidates attended. When President Truman attended that was a proud moment for all the Irish Americans. Many people all over the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day even Japan, Singapore and Russia.
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