(March 16, 2012) Tomorrow, March 17, is St. Patrick's Day, which began as a Roman Catholic holiday celebrating Ireland's patron saint. The feast day originally was observed only in Ireland. It was not until the 1700s when Irish immigrants in the United States started the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City which continues today. In fact, many towns host St. Patrick's Day parades on weekends in March.
The tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is explained in differing ways. It's said that blue was originally the color associated with the holiday but over time green took over in popularity due to Ireland's nickname as "The Emerald Isle," the green in the Irish flag and the clover that St. Patrick used in his teachings about the Trinity.
In Ireland, some still follow the tradition where Catholics wear green and Protestants wear orange. These colors are associated with the religious sects and are represented on the Irish flag; the white on the flag is symbolic of the peace between the two.
On the holiday, people in Ireland do not wear as much green or celebrate quite as wildly as revelers do elsewhere, although there is a legend that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns that will pinch you if they can see you.
Traditional food for the day includes corned beef, cabbage and boiled potatoes. Enjoy!
These traditions and others are noted in Recorder Community Newspapers as well as in their blogs online at newjerseyhills.com. Check out the entries.
Any group or organization interested in joining Recorder bloggers is welcome to contact me at (908) 832-7420 or panderson@recordernewspapers.com. Blogging is a free, simple, 21st century communication tool which requires only a computer and an e-mail.
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