Who was St. Patrick?
The origin of St. Patrick’s Day began with the childhood tragedies of a young boy in Roman Britain (modern day UK), during the 4th century. Unfortunately, when he was 16, a group of Irish raiders tore the boy away from this previously simple life. These invaders ransacked the village and kidnapped its civilians, including the boy, to be taken away and sold as a slaves in Ireland. There, the boy endured six long years of hardships and misery, and, in his forlorn state, turned to Christianity as his only hope.
Finally, upon the obtainment of his freedom, he returned to his hometown and reunited with his family. The boy did not remain in Roman Britain for long, however, and eventually returned to Ireland, not as a slave, but as a determined Christian missionary. Over time, this man grew famous throughout Ireland as Saint Patrick, whose influence is still celebrated today.
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is actually the day of Saint Patrick’s death. This special date was originally known as his “feast day”, which, as it implies, is a holiday to eat and rejoice in his honor.
Where did the symbolism of the shamrock come from?
When St. Patrick lived as a missionary in Ireland, he used the three-leafed clover (or Shamrock) to explain the Holy Trinity to converts. By way of explanation, St. Patrick stated that each leaf represented one part of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
How was this Irish holiday brought to America?
During the mid-1800’s, Ireland was struck by the Great Potato Famine, a devastating incident caused when the disease “Late Blight” rendered Irish potatoes inedible. Since potatoes were a staple for many Irish, this incident threw a massive portion of the population into the clutches of starvation. Many people ended up leaving for America, in the hopes of survival. These droves of immigrants brought themselves, as well as their culture (including St Patrick’s Day) with them.
How did the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York come into existence and grow to be so massive?
Soon after their arrival, the Irish-Americans found themselves cut off from other Americans, under the weight of their “foreigner” statuses. Driven by this isolation, the immigrants banded together and formed organizations, such as the Hibernian Society and the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, to help 
other Irish-Americans adjust and stick together.
Every year, these communal organizations would hold their own parades on St. Patrick’s Day to uphold their traditions and celebrate their culture. In 1848, many of these Irish-American societies combined their parades into one huge procession, which evolved overtime into the parade we know today. This past year, over 150,000 marchers were involved, drawing a whopping 2 million spectators to experience it with them.
Patipat Luangwirun
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